Report: Bristol City Women 1-0 Leicester City Women.

A trip to Vicarage Road to face Chelsea FC in the FA Continental Cup final now awaits the Robins as debutant Kiera Skeels scored the winning goal to claim City’s second win in five days.

What happened? 

The game started evenly as both sides shared possession and little chances were created at either end – the best chance coming through Flo Allen when her looping cross almost dropped into the net.

Charlie Wellings was denied brilliantly by Kirstie Levell before the break when her thunderous half-volley was pushed onto the bar by the ‘keeper.

The first chance for the visitors fell to Lachante Paul when she tried her luck from the edge of the box, but her effort stung the palms of Sophie Baggaley and danger was cleared.

The Foxes started the second half on the front foot and came close to taking the lead when Bailey-Gayle’s driven shot across the face of goal was beaten away by Baggaley.

Bristol City took the first step towards reaching the final of the Conti Cup with 20 minutes remaining as debutant Skeels headed home.

Carla Humphrey's short corner to Salmon was whipped in towards the near post where Skeels was waiting, and the Reading-loanee’s skimmed header flashed across the face of goal and into the bottom corner.

Yana Daniels came close with an ambitious effort from range after City won possession outside the Leicester box, however the Belgian's shot rose over the bar.

The Robins goal prompted Leicester to put a copious amount of pressure on the City backline as they desperately searched for an equaliser to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.

Baggaley pulled off an outstanding point-blank save to deny Millie Farrow with less than a minute remaining, however the flag was up against the Leicester forward.

Farrow came close again at the death when she stabbed an effort wide of Baggaley’s goal, and the Robins’ brave defending was rewarded with the final whistle as they secured their place in the final at Vicarage Road. 

Teams:

Bristol City Women: Baggaley, Evans, Matthews, (C), Humphrey (Rafferty, 88), Salmon, Daniels, Wellings, Allen, Palmer (Harrison, 46), Purfield, Skeels.

Subs: Haaland, Bryson, Bissell, Collis, Layzell, Mastrantonio, Jones.

Leicester City: Levell, De Graaf, Tierney, Plumptre, Smith (Fleming, 68), Barker (C), Bailey-Gayle, Allen, Devlin, Paul, Flint (Cain, 81).

Subs: Harris, Riglar, Cataldo, Everett, Thomas, Farrow, Fergusson.

Key Moment: Kiera Skeels

Skeels came into the side for cup-tied and fellow loanee Molly Pike, and it was the perfect debut for the 19-year-old.

A brilliant header in the second half proved the vital goal for City, sending the Robins to their first ever Conti Cup final. She was an anchor in a well-disciplined Robins backline and helped her side claim their second consecutive clean sheet after the 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the league on Saturday.

Debut delight. 

Player of the Match: Jasmine Matthews

It was a resolute defensive display from the Robins tonight, and captain Matthews used her experience and leadership to help City to a clean sheet in a historic victory.

The natural centre back was deployed in the midfield and put in some big challenges throughout the 90 minutes. She was blunt in defence, limiting the amount of chances given to the Leicester forwards who struggled to create many clear-cut chances all night.

Captain fantastic.

Author: Lewis Barton

Match Report Sponsor: University of the West of England