Report: Crystal Palace Women 2-4 Bristol City Women.

What Happened?

The opening  exchanges saw Bristol City dominate possession and sound out their opponents. Humphrey had the first chance of the game as the ball dropped to her in the box and her effort clattered off the bar, before Logarzo’s volley whistled over frame of the goal.

City broke the deadlock in the fifteenth minute as Salmon’s bullet-like cross found Bissell unmarked at the far post and the winger volleyed home to open the scoring. 

The visitors didn’t have to wait long for their second as Logarzo was hauled down in the area by Goddard and the referee pointed to the spot. The Australian picked herself up and smashed the ball into the corner of the net to double the lead. 

The chances kept on coming for City. Salmon was inches away from connecting with Bissell’s cross, as well as Abi Harrison almost rounding the Palace ‘keeper but neither would capitalise. 

Logarzo would get her second and City’s third of the night as the half-time whistle drew near. The Aussie was in the right place at the right time as the ball dropped to her in the box and she tucked it home to see the Robins take a 3-0 lead going into the break.

Following the half-time break and a triple change for City, substitute Charlie Wellings got in on the scoring act. She picked up the ball on the edge of the Palace area following great footwork from Humphrey, shifted it onto her right foot and fired the ball into the bottom corner. 

With a four goal lead City seemed comfortable, however two lapses in concentration brought the hosts right back into the game via a quick fire double from Baptiste. 

Her first coming as she picked the ball up on halfway and drove deep into the City half before cutting inside and stroking the ball home.The second was a little more fortuitous as Natkiel’s looping effort rebounded off the bar and dropped to the feet of the winger, who tapped home for her second in as many minutes. 

Despite Palace being reenergised after their two goals the hosts failed to trouble City again as Oxtoby’s side regained control of the game. 

City were unlucky to not add a fifth as Abi Harrison headed home from Yana Daniels’ in-swinging cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. 

Teams:

Bristol City Women: Baggaley (C), Evans (Matthews 45’), Logarzo, Humphrey (Jones 66’), Salmon (Daniels 45’), Bissell (Wellings 45’), Harrison, Purfield, Layzell, Mastrantonio

Subs: Haaland, Rafferty, Cook, Wilson, Collis

Crystal Palace: Gibbons, Goddard, Clifford, Gaylor, Natkiel, Waldie, Wilson, Georgiou, Haines, Morgan, Hurley

Subs: Morgan, Johnson, Stobbs, Baptiste, Rutherford, Churchill

Key moment: Charlie Wellings

After City’s dominant opening 45 minutes they needed to start fast to carry on their momentum and put the game beyond any doubt. 

Little over five minutes into the second period they got their chance. The ball made its way to Wellings on the edge of the Palace area, and her shot across goal nestled into the bottom corner to put City 4-0 up. 

The goal would prove vital as Palace came back into the game with two goals in two minutes. Wellings’ strike ensured the visitors had a two-goal cushion for the remainder of the game

Timely. 

Player of the Match: Naomi Layzell

The City youngster was thrust into the starting XI following an impressive appearance off the bench earlier on in the competition and she seamlessly stepped into the centre back role. 

She dealt with the ball calmly when under pressure and often thwarted the Palace attack before it had become dangerous. 

Partnered with Evans in the first half and Matthews in the second, the youngster did not look out of place throughout an assured ninety minute performance.

Future star.