Bristol City Women take the win over Blackburn Rovers Women
Posted on: 14 Oct 2024Bristol City Women 2-1 Blackburn Rovers Women
Sunday 13 October 2024, 14:00 KO, Attendance: 2113
Steve Kirby faced his first home crowd at Ashton Gate on an overcast afternoon, meeting a strict defensive side in Blackburn Rovers. City began the afternoon in 7th, wedged between the Tyneside derby, with Newcastle vs Sunderland also being played this Sunday.
The home side came in on winning ways, having collected wins vs Sheffield United and Leicester. Their opponents however had lost their last three, scoring just one goal. They set up in their familiar 5-3-2 system, making them a real tough team to break down. To the dismay of the away fans, their last goal scorer Grace Riglar sustained an awful ACL injury prior to their visit to the ‘Gate. In the red corner, Jasmine Bull and Abi Harrison replaced Humphries and Ward, the signing from Saints - Lexi Lloyd-Smith undoubtedly maintained her position in the 11 after scoring in both of her last two fixtures. For the visitors, Poppy Soper came in for first choice keeper Alex Brooks, Murphy in for Hack and a double change in the middle saw Riglar and Williams nudged out for Noble and Edwards.
The home fans barely had the opportunity to sit down before Lexi Lloyd-Smith found herself in on goal as she aimed for the top right corner. To Soper’s delight, the ball floated just astray. A dynamic start to the game. The resulting goal kick, taken by Soper, might’ve given the chance for the away side to settle any nerves. Instead, it did the opposite. Hardly reaching the halfway line, Soper’s kick was intercepted by City, who could smell blood. Before Blackburn could see it coming, the red-hot no.10 Lloyd-Smith was slipped through, slotting past a desperate Soper, making it three goals in three for the rapid red. A barrage of City attacks occurred for the following several minutes which had the opposing manager Simon Parker and his team scratching their heads. Their side couldn’t escape their half for the first 8’.
For the proceeding 10 minute spell, Blackburn tried to edge their way into the game, managing to string a few forward passes together but still being the weaker of the two sides. Having watched the last home game vs Birmingham, Steve Kirby has certainly improved the aggression and togetherness of the team, players are hunting as a pack, mauling opponents in possession.
Gradually, Blackburn began to find opportunities to breakaway. To the dismay of the away manager, City’s no.4 Sillie Struck, heroically stormed over to the attacker tackling and preventing forward threats not once or twice but three times before her fellow defenders finally came to aid. The blue and white attacks came thick and fast as City’s Jasmine Bull let the ball slip under her foot just into the City half. The duo strike force of Clarkson and Dehou pounced, approaching the penalty area at some speed. To Fran Bentley’s relief, Harley Bennet slid across for an amazing recovery snatching the ball and finding a teammate, an act that certainly pleased this home crowd. As the play progressed, the ball found itself with City’s Rodgers, the central midfielder took two delicate touches before unleashing a thunderous strike, rattling the Blackburn crossbar. I’m sure the crowd’s “ooo’s” could be heard throughout Bristol after that attempt. The final act of the first half came from that player again, Lexi Lloyd- Smith. After spinning a terrific slide rule pass into the path of Ffion Morgan who's cross caused a slight disturbance in the Blackburn penalty area but was ultimately cleared in the end to the sound of the half time whistle.
The second half was underway in BS3 with one change made by Steve Kirby: Humphries replacing Bull in defence. The start of the second period was one of polar opposite to the first, both teams squandering possession with no potency in their play. The referees whistle then blew as Blackburn’s no.20 Eve Clarkson went down seeking medical attention. Clarkson was stretchered off after a lengthy period of time; hopefully the forward has a speedy recovery. Following the delay, the next talking point came in minute 71’ as a penalty claim was debatably waved away by the referee following protests from the attacking team in blue and white. The blue corner was adamant it should’ve been a spot kick as Edwards was bundled over in the area. Rovers then made their second substitute of the game, Crompton replaced by Walters. As Blackburn searched for the equaliser, they left themselves prone to counterattack from the home side. The ball broke for captain Jamie Napier as she slipped into the away penalty area. A stampede of blue and white prevailed as the ball was swept away just as the City skipper could draw her right leg back to shoot. After a spell of Blackburn possession which ended with the ball back in the City defence, goalkeeper Bentley looked as if she had cold feet, similar to those in the stand. Bentley aimed to pass to her fullback on the left hand side of the penalty area but the pass was thwarted by Maria Edwards as she lurked on the edge. The striker, calm and composed took a touch before rifling the ball in the bottom left corner. A moment Bentley will not want to re-watch.
The next 10 minutes were tight; the final result was up in the air with either team looking likely to prosper. After giving the ball away in the middle of the pitch and fouling her oncoming opponent, Abi Harrison made her way off the pitch to be replaced by no.14 Mari Ward, a defensive minded substitute from Kirby. After minutes of stop and start play, Rovers found themselves with a free kick at least 30 yards from goal, Dahou stood over the ball and the whole ground must’ve anticipated a cross. To everyone’s shock, Dahou struck through the ball cleanly as it hardly swerved, piercing through the air towards Bentley’s goal. The crossbar shook and the ball went out for a goal kick. The ground fell silent for just a second as time stood still before a sigh of relief echoed round Ashton Gate.
Full time looked ever closer as we entered minute 89’. The announcement rang around the ‘Gate “a minimum of 12 added minutes”. City certainly looked to have the better stamina in the final minutes as Napier embarked on another slalom. The skipper was stopped in her tracks after a strategic pull of the shirt from Taylor. This resulted in a yellow card. The home crowd were certainly angered by the defender’s foul play.
Minute 93’. Just as the crowd had begun to fall flat with an ever-impending draw looming, Mari Ward rolled the ball to the edge of the Blackburn area. Running onto the pass was Syme who met it with a first-time right footed strike into the top corner of the Blackburn net leaving the keeper stunned and helpless. 2-1 City. The goal scorer lapped up the applause with her arms outstretched, bundled over by her ecstatic teammates.
90+7’ More miscommunication at the heart of the city defence as Bentley edged out of her area with the ball at her feet taking it past the pressing striker and out for a throw to her left-hand side.
My player of the Match today: Lexi Lloyd-Smith astonishingly turned her defender inside out and looped in a fabulous cross to Ward who unfortunately, turned it over the bar ending the fixture there. I have run out of things to say about City’s number 10 as I am surely not the only one to wonder how she hasn’t stirred up rumours of a move to the WSL.
FT 2-1.
Happy faces all round here at Ashton Gate as the match winner Syme stated in her post- match interview, “we dominated, particularly in the first half, we were very aware of the threats they had and I think we dealt with them very well in the first half but as it came a bit open I think we could do better to deal with that.” Syme also suggested “I scored a similar one in training; Abi Harrison can vouch for that(!)”
A very team- orientated response from Syme further reflects the strong pillar of togetherness set by Kirby, evident to those who watched today. A worldie strike by Syme may have caught the headlines but as she stated, “it’s the 3 points we are after and I’m so glad I can help the team”.
Article by:
Sports-mad A-level student with his heart set on a career in football journalism. He’s played in Bristol’s top level of youth football, the Junior Premier League and years at Bristol Rovers Academy. Olly is hoping to secure a job/apprenticeship/trainee-ship in any kind of sports media. He can be contacted at ollyboyce09@gmail.com.
