Report: Bristol City 2-4 Leicester City.

Goals from debutants Carrie Jones and Amalie Thestrup were not enough for Bristol City as they were beaten 4-2 by Leicester City on their return to the Barclays Women's Super League.

Jones had put City ahead in the first half, but an Aimee Palmer equaliser, followed by second-half strikes from Shannon O’Brien, Lena Petermann and Jutta Rantala, before Threstrup’s consolation from the penalty spot, saw the Robins defeated at Ashton Gate. 

Head Coach Lauren Smith named four new faces in her starting eleven for the first ever Women’s Super League meeting between Bristol City and Leicester City, with Megan Connolly, Amy Rodgers, Thestrup, Jones and the returning Satara Murray all in from the off. 

Former City manager Willie Kirk also named five debutants in his side, including former Robin Palmer.

There was an impeccably observed minute's silence ahead of kick-off in memory of Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack, who tragically lost her life two weeks ago.

City were looking to become only the third promoted team in history to win their first WSL game of the season, and started the brighter of the two, winning a couple of corners inside the opening 10 minutes, but the visitors dealt with Connolly’s dangerous deliveries well.

The first notable chance of the game fell to the hosts as Amy Rodgers found Ella Powell on the right-hand side, and the Welsh international’s shot from distance was well held by Janina Leitzig in The Foxes goal.  

Sophie Howard then went close for Leicester, seeing her first time effort from 25-yards out sail just over Fran Bentley’s goal.

City took a deserved lead just after the half-hour mark when Jones turned her marker before firing home from the edge of the area. 

Smith’s side began to take control of the game and nearly doubled their lead soon after, as Ffion Morgan caused havoc in the Leicester area with a driven cross which Howard almost inadvertently turned into the back of her own net.

Jones went agonisingly close to doubling City’s lead and her own tally when she latched onto a through-ball from Ella Powell before seeing her effort from a tight angle blocked on the line by Howard.

Leicester equalised on the cusp of half-time through Palmer, with the former City midfielder smashing a long-range, left-footed effort into the top corner. 

Bentley made a huge save to keep the scores level just after the interval, blocking Sam Tierney’s close-range effort after some good play from the visitors.

City did go behind soon after however when O’Brien cut inside onto her right-foot before driving a low effort past Bentley and into the near corner. 

The visitors extended their lead further as substitute Rantala’s corner was headed home by Petermann. 

Bentley was called into action again and kept City in the game with another fantastic save, tipping Janice Cayman’s goal-bound strike behind for a corner.

The introduction of Emily Syme, Jamie-Lee Napier and Mari Ward sparked a new lease of life into City, and the hosts went close when Syme and Jones combined well to find Amalie Thestrup in behind, but her shot was blocked. 

Connolly’s floated delivery from deep was headed down by Brooke Aspin for Satara Murray to strike, but she could only hook her shot over and behind.

The Foxes got their fourth of the afternoon through Rantala with 10 minutes left on the clock, but City responded immediately, being awarded a penalty for a foul on Mari Ward. 

Thestrup fired the spot-kick into the bottom corner to give the Robins a lifeline heading into the final stages of the game but Leicester held on to claim all three points.

Team: Bentley (GK), Powell, Aspin (Simpson 88’), Murray, Layzell, Morgan (Napier 59’), Connolly (C), Rodgers (Syme 59’), Furness (Ward 73’), Jones, Thestrup (Hayes 88’). Substitutes : Marckese (GK), Mustaki, Bull,Teisar.

Att: 4,132

Report by Kory Cook