Report: Crystal Palace 2-1 Bristol City.

City suffered their first defeat of the new year as Crystal Palace ran out 2-1 winners at the VBS Community Stadium this afternoon.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith had given the travelling fans something to cheer inside the opening half hour, but goals from Abbie Larkin and Ashleigh Weerden turned the contest in the hosts’ favour.

The result leaves City third in WSL2 after 15 games, one point ahead of Palace and three behind second-placed Birmingham City.

The opening 20 minutes were evenly contested in South London, with Palace carving out the first clear opportunity.

A pinball moment in the City box almost saw the hosts take the lead, but January signing Lauren Brzykcy reacted sharply to avert the danger.

City’s first real chance fell to Katie Robinson, who found space on the right-hand side of the box before flashing her effort just wide.

Jessie Gale was next to trouble the Palace defence, bursting through on goal before being brought down by Nolan, who controversially received only a yellow card.

From the resulting free-kick, Syme’s effort looked destined for the bottom corner before being well pushed away by Yañez.

City eventually found a deserved opener.

Losada’s looping delivery into the area was met by Sille Struck, who cushioned a header perfectly into the six-yard box for Lexi Lloyd-Smith to tap home from close range.

The Robins looked set to go into the break ahead, but Larkin’s equaliser just before half-time levelled proceedings.

After the hour mark, Palace took the lead in style, as Weerden fired into the roof of Brzykcy’s net from close range.

Despite introducing Hardy, Farrugia, Jones, Dafeur and debutant Olivia Woś, City were unable to find an equaliser in the remaining half hour.

The result leaves City third in WSL2, three points off second placed Birmingham and one ahead of fourth-placed Palace.

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Starting XI:  Brzykcy (GK), Powell, Lawley (Woś, 74), Struck, Ingle (Jones, 84), Robinson (Hardy, 68), Losada (Dafeur, 68) Lloyd-Smith, Ward, Syme (Farrugia, 84), Gale

Substitutes not used: Burns (GK), Morgan, Saez, Madden