Report: Lewes 0-1 Bristol City.

Shania Hayles' second-half effort proved the difference in a deserved victory for the Robins, who dominated much of the evening's action.

✍️ BACKGROUND

Lauren Smith made three changes to the side that tasted defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday, as Abi Harrison, Shania Hayles and Vicky Bruce came into the side for Jazz Bull, Jesse Woolley and Ffion Morgan.

📝 WHAT HAPPENED? 

City had the first sight of goal on the night, with Grace Clinton seeing her central free-kick well gathered by Sophie Whitehouse in the Lewes goal.

Just three minutes later, Smith’s side had a second sight of goal as Rachel Furness fired over after Hayles broke into the Rooks’ area, stretching the defence for the first time.

Ellie Mason, fresh from scoring four times in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on Sunday, had the first effort for the hosts as she fired over from the edge of the area after a Lewes corner.

The Robins continued to have the better of things in the early stages, with Ella Powell delivering an excellent left-footed cross which Clinton nodded wide of the mark after 20 minutes.

Just two minutes later, Emily Syme had the best chance of the first half-hour as she latched onto Abi Harrison’s deft flick before seeing her prodded effort gathered by Whitehouse.

Mason then had the hosts’ first attempt on goal as she cut inside from the left before seeing an effort well-claimed by Fran Bentley.

Rhian Cleverly could well have opened the scoring after 33 minutes as she ghosted in at the far post but couldn’t quite squeeze the ball home from a dangerous cross.

With 35 minutes on the clock Harrison fired a dangerous low ball towards the back post but it just escaped the touch of an onrushing Hayles.

Hayles then had an effort cleared off the line as the half entered stoppage time, the forward taking it round Whitehouse in a crowded area before seeing her strike well blocked.

⏱️ HALF-TIME

Hayles had a great opportunity inside one minute of the restart as she fired a snap-shot over the bar from inside the area.

After a flurry of City chances and sustained pressure, the breakthrough finally came after 58 minutes.

Jodie Hutton delivered a corner from the right and after a melee in the Lewes area, Harrison fired an effort into a crowd of bodies from which Hayles emerged to finish instinctively into the bottom corner.

With 20 minutes to play, Whitehouse was forced into a really smart save to deny City a second, which they richly deserved.

Jesse Woolley broke through in stoppage time but saw her effort well saved by Whitehouse.

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🏃‍♂TEAM

Bentley, Pearse, Layzell, Bruce, Powell, Clinton, Furness (Woolley 64'), Syme, Hutton (Morgan 64'), Harrison, Hayles

Subs not used: Clark, Cataldo, C.Bull, Wilde, Teisar, Ward

🎥 POST-MATCH REACTION 

🗓 UP NEXT AT HOME

City Women return home to the Robins High Performance Centre on Sunday, March 12th to take on Durham.