Coventry United 1 Bristol City 1

 From the Bristol City website:

📝 REPORT: COVENTRY UNITED 1-1 BRISTOL CITY WOMEN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH 2021

Abi Harrison's late equaliser earned City Women a hard-fought point in the West Midlands.

Match Report sponsor: University of the West of England

THE BACKGROUND

The Robins travelled to the Midlands looking for back-to-back league victories for the first time this season as they visited Coventry United.  

Head Coach Lauren Smith made four changes to the team that put five past Sheffield United on Halloween, with Sophie Whitehouse, Ella Powell, Simran Jhamat and Aggie Beever-Jones all coming into the side. 

In the absence of skipper Aimee Palmer, the in-form Abi Harrison wore the armband for the Robins. 

Lauren Smith was dealt a blow before a ball had even been kicked at Butts Park Arena, as Ffion Morgan failed a late fitness test. Lia Cataldo replaced her in the starting XI, with Flo Allen making the bench. 

WHAT HAPPENED

Coventry had the first chance of the game, as a training ground set piece almost caught City out when Katie Wilkinson’s free-kick whistled just past the post.

City had their first chance of the game soon after, when Aggie Beever-Jones skipped past two defenders and let fly from range, but her shot sailed over the Coventry United goal. 

The visitors then had two ‘half’ chances in quick concession, as Simran Jhamat’s clever through ball just evaded the run of Beever-Jones, who would've been one-on-one with Olivia Clark. 

Moments later, Chloe Bull had a shot on the edge of the box blocked, and her initial effort almost fell kindly for Abi Harrison, but the ball was pounced upon by Clark just as the City striker was shaping up to shoot.

The Robins then went close five minutes prior to the break, as Harrison’s square ball fell towards Melissa Johnson but Clark did well to deny her from close range.

Coventry then took the lead moments before half-time, as Rio Hardy found the bottom corner with an accomplished finish, leaving Whitehouse no chance in the City goal. 

United then had the ball in the back of the net just after the interval, but Hardy was deemed to be in an offside position as she steered her shot past Whitehouse.

City went close to levelling the game shortly after, as Beever-Jones burst past her opposite number to tee up Johnson, but she could only fire her left-footed strike over the crossbar.

The visitors began to pile the pressure on just after the hour mark, as Aspin’s goal-bound header was deflected behind before Jhamat saw her driven effort from range saved comfortably by Clark. 

That pressure almost paid off moments later when City had their best chance of the game. Cataldo drove forward and did well to find Johnson, who looked certain to score, but could only divert her effort wide of Clark’s goal. 

Lauren Smith’s side finally got their equaliser with ten minutes left on the clock. Chloe Bull’s cross almost inadvertently looped into the back of the net, but instead cannoned off the bar and into the path of Harrison who smashed home for her fourth goal of the season.

THE TEAM

City: Whitehouse, Cataldo, Aspin, Murray, Powell, Kuyken, C.Bull, Jhamat, Beever-Jones, Johnson, Harrison (C)

Subs: Bentley, Allen, J.Bull, Davies, Wilde