Report: Bristol City 3-0 Durham.

An own goal own the stroke of half-time gave City the lead before goals from Gracie Pearse and Grace Clinton secured all three points for the Robins.

✍️ BACKGROUND

City went into the game off the back of a four-match winning run in the league, looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

Rachell Furness came into Lauren Smith’s side, anchoring the midfield in the only change from last week’s win at Crystal Palace.

📝 WHAT HAPPENED? 

After a cagey start to the game, Durham were the first to create anything of note as Lauren Briggs had a chance inside the area but Fran Bentley got down well to her right and saved comfortably.

City came close in the 39^th minute as Ella Powell’s cross bounced off the crossbar following a neat backheel from Abi Harrison.

An Emily Syme effort then found its way on to the head of Shania Hayles but it was easily collected by Naoisha McAloon.

City opened the scoring in the second minute of additional time at the end of the first half as Harrison’s flick-on was turned into their own net by Durham defender Becky Salicki.

⏱️ HALF-TIME

The first chance of the second half fell to Clinton following half-time substitute Aimee Palmer’s corner, but Clinton couldn’t get her volley on target.

Harrison would come close minutes later, with a stunning strike from distance firing just wide of the far post.

City would have their second goal of the afternoon as Gracie Pearse emphatically powered a bouncing ball on the spin into the top corner after a corner was half-cleared.

The Robins would put Durham under more pressure in the second half, with an interchange between Harrison and Syme leading to the Scottish forward forcing a fine stop from McAloon.

Good running from Hayles saw the ball eventually fall to Clinton but her effort was over the bar.

Clinton extended City’s lead finishing off a flowing move started by Brooke Aspin who made her first appearance of the season off the substitutes bench.

Aspin fed Harrison who crossed for Clinton to score at the second attempt after her initial effort was well saved by McAloon.

It was nearly a dream afternoon for Aspin who rattled the crossbar with a header late on.

The win sees Lauren Smith’s side make it eight games unbeaten in the Barclay’s Women’s Championship.

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🏃‍♂TEAM

Bentley, Pearse (Aspin 67'), Layzell, Bruce, Morgan (Woolley 67'), Syme (C.Bull 80'), Furness (Palmer 46'), Clinton, Powell, Harrison, Hayles (J.Bull 90')

Subs not used: Clark, Cataldo, Hutton, Teisar

🎥 POST-MATCH REACTION 

🗓 UP NEXT AT HOME

City Women return home to the Robins High Performance Centre on Sunday, April 2nd to take on Sheffield United.