Goals from Izzy Christiansen, Claire Emslie, Abbie McManus and Jen Beattie ensured that Nick Cushing’s side secured the three points to move above Chelsea in the rankings on Sunday.
What happened
The whole of the first half was completely dominated by City, with Bristol rarely having a chance.
It didn’t take long for Nick Cushing’s side to take the lead as a penalty arose after Christiansen was brought down in the area.
The penalty queen herself stepped up to the spot and confidently fired the ball into the bottom left hand corner to make it 1-0 for the home side.
City’s penalty goal installed a new level of fire into the team and Steph Houghton’s free-kick looked almost certain to double the lead, but Bristol ‘keeper Sophie Baggaley knocked the skipper’s effort away from the target.
While it was a gloriously sunny day at the Academy Stadium, the blaring light of the sunshine laid low and made it difficult for the Blues captain to find the back of the net as she visibly raised her hand to try and block the light with her hand.
Just minutes later, Jill Scott ran onto the ball with determination and confidently fired a long-distance effort close to the floor which missed the goal by inches.
While City continued to dominate throughout the entirety of the first half, the Blues’ next goal didn’t come until the 37th minute when Emslie cleverly sashayed around the Bristol defence and - from the left side – beautifully curled her shot into the right hand corner past Baggaley.
Bristol’s first chance came just minutes before the half-time whistle.
Number nine, Yana Daniels, forced Ellie Roebuck to switch into action and make her first save of the match – which she did by comfortably diving and catching the ball.
In the minute of extra time in the first half, Bristol’s Lauren Hemp also looked threatening, but again Roebuck drove forward and blocked the effort which received and eruption of cheers at the stadium.
City added another goal to their tally in the 58th minute of the game after Jane Ross found McManus – who cleverly curled the ball into the net with her left foot to take City 3-0 up at home.
City continued to press into the later stages of the game and Christiansen’s ball to substitution Nikita Parris looked to promise a fourth, but the striker fired her effort over the crossbar.
The Blues wrapped up the match with another goal, scored by Beattie, in the final minutes of the game and Cushing’s side scooped the three points as ‘we are top of the league’ and ‘that’s why we are champions’ echoed around the ground.
How they lined up
Ellie Roebuck was in goal against the Vixens, with Demi Stokes, Jen Beattie, skipper Steph Houghton and Abbie McManus in defence.
Izzy Christiansen, Kiera Walsh and Jill Scott took their places in midfield while Melissa Lawley and Claire Emslie flanked Jane Ross up front.
What it means
City’s win means we are now on 15 points in the Women’s Super League table, two points clear of Chelsea, and our 100 per cent winning record this season continues.
Next up
Next, City will face LSK Kvinner on Thursday 16 November at the Academy Stadium for the second meeting in the Uefa Women’s Champions League, kick-off at 7pm.
Nick Cushing’s side will hope to build on the impressive 5-0 victory which we secured away in Norway at the beginning of November.
