Sat 18 July 2015
Report by Sam Hardwell
Bristol Academy fell to The Blues – who now move up to 5th in the WSL – as a double from forward Toni Duggan helped ensure Nick Cushing’s side the three-points.
CHRONOLOGICAL MATCH REPORT:
Manchester City Women’s manager Nick Cushing featured four heroines of this years World Cup. However, it was the combination of both Nikita Parris and Krystle Johnston who created the first clear opportunity on the 15-minute mark for City. Fine footwork from the lively Parris, wiggling her way down the byeline, eventually cutting the ball back to Johnston on the edge of the box who pulled a left-footed effort wide of Mary Earps’ right-hand post.
Earps was called into action not long after, as an inswinging delivery from Isobel Christiansen troubled the Vixens defence with the England Under-23 shot stopper doing enough to palm the ball away for a corner.
New signing Nadia Lawrence, playing wide left surged with regularity throughout the game; however, after beating England World Cup star Lucy Bronze, she eventually scuffed her and Bristol’s first shot on target with Karen Bardsley gathering comfortably.
Steph Houghton saw plenty of the ball from deep for the Blues. It was the England skipper who switched the play to Nikita Parris on the left, eventually pulling the ball back to Tonni Duggan who struck the ball from the edge of the box into the top right-hand corner. Earps left stranded with no chance after what looks to be one of the contenders for goal of the season.
GOAL: BRISTOL ACADEMY 0 – 1 MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN (Tonni Duggan, 29 mins)
The Vixens rallied, Angharad James hitting just over with a first time right-footed effort from the edge of the box following great build up play by Frankie Brown which drew spirited appreciation from the Academy faithful.
The Academy were enduring their best spell of the game so far prior to the 40-minute mark, as Tatiana Pinto headed over and Coroline Weir could only find the gloves of Karen Bardsley with a long-range effort.
The Vixens almost gave themselves a mountain to climb just before the half-time whistle, as Bronze and Parris combined well down the right for City. It was Parris who was put through with plenty of room to manoeuvre towards goal, but was brilliantly halted in her tracks by the ever brave Hayley Ladd.
HALF-TIME: BRISTOL ACADEMY 0 – 1 MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN
Despite a narrow score line separating both sides, it was the Blues who were in search for goal number two early on in the second-half, as goalscorer Duggan struck the upright after Earps flapped at a cross from the City right. The ball eventually finding its way to Christiansen, but the former Birmingham player could only find the safe hands of ‘keeper Earps after the second time of asking.
Houghton yet again being the orchestrater for the Blues, as another breathtaking Hollywood pass by the 27-year-old found Duggan who flicked the ball into the path of Christiansen in on goal, but found her low effort well saved by the diving feet of Earps just 10-yards from goal. Bronze eventually driving her shot wide from the edge of the box as a result of the corner.
Bristol Academy Substitution: Tatiana Pinto replaced by Christie Murray (55 mins)
Half the ground thought City had their second of the game as Christiansen struck the bar yet again for the visitors after the Vixens defence failed to clear on the edge of their own box. The Academy faithful watched on with their hearts in their mouths, however, they continued to encourage their side for the equaliser they needed.
At the other end, Georgia Evans met an outswinging delivery from the Academy right, only to head straight at Bardsley between the sticks for City from the penalty-spot.
Manchester City Women’s Substitution: Krystle Johnston replaced by Daphe Carboz (65 mins)
City’s persistence in the second-half eventually paid off, but with a hint of fortune. The corner from Christiansen looked to have been scuffed and somehow managed to find its way back into the box falling to Parris, who eventually found Duggan to tap home passed the despairing dive of Earps.
GOAL: BRISTOL ACADEMY 0 – 2 MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN (Tonni Duggan, 68 mins)
As the game wore on midway throughout the second-half, City’s qualities were on show, not allowing the Vixens a sniff of the ball and brilliant direct running by box-to-box midfielder Jill Scott who caused the Academy problems all night. However, Parris pulled a shot wide of the post from the edge of the box after more hard work from Duggan.
Bristol Academy Substitution: Georgia Evans is replaced by Evdokia Popadinova (75 mins)
City were letting their dominance get to their heads, and showed when Duggan tried a rather speculative effort from almost 40-yards from goal which was always rising and brought ironic cheers from the home supporters.
As City looked to kill the game off, Duggan almost claimed her hat-trick if it wasn’t for yet another stupendous save by Earps, reaching a curling shot which was destined for the far corner. Parris eventually finding the hands of the young keeper to relieve the relentless pressure.
Despite the Vixens’ hard work off the ball, it was City who found their third rounding off some brilliant intricate play on the edge of the box with Daphe Corboz scoring with great composure on her debut after signing from George Town University earlier this month.
GOAL: BRISTOL ACADEMY 0 – 3 MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN (Daphe Corboz, 77 mins)
Only but a minute later, City should have had a fourth and a hat-trick for Duggan as she ran clear in on goal after a terrible back-pass by the Academy defence. However, she could only pull her shot wide with everyone in a red jersey looking around each other.
For all the effort and desire, the Vixens could not find their way through what was a water-tight Manchester City defence. Weir trying her luck from range, but could only result in the referee blowing up for the end to the high-tempo Women’s Super League game.
FULL-TIME: BRISTOL ACADEMY 0 – 3 MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN
BRISTOL ACADEMY: Earps, Dykes, Weir, Lawrence, Ladd, Ingle (c), James, Brown, Pinto, Evans, Short.
Subs: Townsend, Murray, Brummel, Popadinova, Reid (GK), Jones
MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN: Bardsley, Bronze, Stokes, Beattie, Houghton (c), Johnston, Scott, Duggan, Christiansen, Parris, Radtke
Subs: Corboz, Brooks (GK), Lipman, Brougham, McManus
Referee: Adrian Quelch
Assistants: Michael Ballard & Christopher Manning
4th Official: Martin Tudor
WOTM: Mary Earps
Attendance: 946
Sam Hardwell - Football Correspondent 