Report: Nottingham Forest 2-4 Bristol City.

City began the calendar year with a 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

An own goal, and strikes from Mari Ward, Rio Hardy and Jessie Gale saw The Robins go six points ahead of their hosts in the table.

Charlotte Healy made three changes to the side which lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace prior to the festive break, with Gemma Lawley, Esther Morgan and new signing Katie Robinson all coming into the starting XI.

Gale, who joined on loan from Arsenal this week, was named amongst the substitutes.

City took the lead inside two minutes when Ward and-Lloyd-Smith combined down the left-hand flank before the latter’s whipped cross was bundled into her own net by a Forest defender.

The hosts were awarded a free-kick almost immediately after the restart and captain Mollie Green let fly from distance, but fired over.

Ward was involved again as City’s lead was doubled after just nine minutes, as her shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection and looped over Emily Batty and into the back of the net.

The hosts began to grow into the game and were rewarded for their efforts as Deanne Rose fired past Fran Bentley to half the deficit.

As the game began to open up, City came close to a third as Lloyd-Smith skipped past two defenders before clipping the crossbar with her shot.

Hardy then caused some problems for the Forest defender, beating one before firing across the face of goal, but Lloyd-Smith couldn’t quite connect with it at the back post.

The home side started the second period brightly and went close to equalising when Amy Rodgers fired narrowly wide.

Batty pulled off a superb stop to deny Lloyd-Smith, whose first-time effort looked destined to hit the back of the net after she had been picked out by Ward.

City did finally extend their lead when Emily Syme rattled the crossbar with a thunderous free-kick from 35 yards, and Hardy was on hand to finish from close range on the rebound.

Ella Powell, Camila Saez, Vicky Losada and Gale were all introduced as City looked to secure the points.

It was to be the perfect debut for Gale, who was set free by Sophie Ingle’s pass over the top before she lifted the ball over Batty and into the back of the net.

Forest responded quickly, pulling one back when Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah slotted past Bentley.

Hardy almost made it five, but her strike was straight at Batty, and City saw it out to take all three points.

Starting XI: Bentley (GK), Ward, Struck (Sáez 78’), Lawley, Morgan, Darfeur (Meena 86'), Ingle, Lloyd-Smith (Gale 77’), Syme (Losada 78), Robinson (Powell' 66), Hardy.

Subs not used: Mutch (GK), Bennett, Jones, Farrugia.