Report: Southampton 0-1 Bristol City.

Ffion Morgan's spectacular first-half effort proved the difference at St. Mary's although it took resolute defending and Fran Bentley heroics to make sure of the points.

✍️ BACKGROUND

Lauren Smith made four changes to the side that lost at London City Lionesses a week ago as Rachel Furness came into the midfield, while Mari Ward started at left wing-back.

Brooke Aspin made her first start of the season and Jesse Woolley led the line with Shania Hayles, Abi Harrison dropping into midfield.

📝 WHAT HAPPENED? 

The first opening of the afternoon fell the way of the hosts as Ella Morris flashed a dangerous low ball across the area, narrowly missing the dangerous Beth Lumsden in the middle.

Hayles had a great chance to open the scoring after 11 minutes as she was played through on goal by Harrison but found her route to goal blocked by Kayla Rendell.

However, it wouldn't be long before City found a way through though.

With 18 minutes on the clock Morgan rounded off an excellent team move with a finish worthy of winning any game as she rifled a dipping volley in off the crossbar from outside area.

Lumsden had another opportunity just after the half-hour mark as she cut in from the left before seeing her effort saved by Bentley.

Ella Pusey could well have levelled things up five minutes before the break when she capitalised on a defensive error and nipped round Bentley before firing over the bar. 

The hosts needed some desperate defending to go into half-time just one behind as Morgan's cut-back was deflected goalwards but the Saints managed to scramble clear.

⏱️ HALF-TIME

Woolley saw an effort from the edge of the area well saved five minutes after the restart before Furness' header was gathered by Rendell from the resulting corner.

It took an excellent reaction save from Bentley to keep the scores level six minutes later as she denied Lumsden on the follow-up after a low cross broke for the Saints forward.

Bentley's spectacular second-half performance continued as Katie Wilkinson went through one-on-one but the City stopper did enough to force her wide.

But the best was yet to come Bentley though, as she threw out a leg to keep out Wilkinson's deflected effort from the edge of the area.

Southampton struck the woodwork with 94 minutes on the clock, but City held on for victory.

---

🏃‍♂TEAM

Bentley, Pearse, Aspin (Cataldo 58'), Bruce, Morgan (Teisar 90'), Harrison, Furness, Clinton, Ward (Powell 46'), Hayles (Syme 66'), Woolley (Palmer 58')

Subs not used: Clark, C.Bull, J.Bull, Wilde

🎥 POST-MATCH REACTION 

🗓 UP NEXT AT HOME

City Women return home to the Robins High Performance Centre on Sunday, April 2nd to take on Sheffield United (3pm).