A promotion two years in the making for Bristol City was sealed by the new and old school of the rebuilt Robins, with the added emotional narrative of Brooke Aspin’s brace after a season of immense struggle for the teenager, all befitting of their brilliant campaign under Lauren Smith.
City secured their return to the Women’s Super League at Ashton Gate, just under two years after they suffered relegation from the top-flight and the need to completely reconstruct and restructure the squad as a result.
With one game to spare, Smith’s side can’t be caught at the top of the Championship as a double by Aspin, Grace Clinton and Ffion Morgan secured a 4-0 victory over Charlton Athletic.
Clinton, a 20-year-old loanee from Manchester United, and Morgan represent the outstanding recruitment undertaken by Smith since she returned to the club in the summer of 2021 to begin the monumental job of getting the club back in the top flight.
City’s second, barely a minute after the second-half restart, then arrived fittingly from the boot of Abi Harrison, one of the few survivors from the relegation campaign who’s experienced all the highs, lows and considerable change since.
Her corner, delivered on her 100th appearance for the club, looked to have crossed the line on its own but defender Brooke Aspin secured the final touch, giving City room to breathe for the final 30 minutes as the 17-year-old was able to put a challenging season firmly behind her.
Aspin missed a large proportion of the campaign hospitalised with sepsis, halting her impressive rise in the game which has seen her earmarked as a future full England international, but the immensely talented teenager will hopefully be part of this team as they return to the WSL
That, plus the added realisation of the enormity of the achievement, came to the surface as she connected with Aimee Palmer’s corner for her second and the team’s third. Joy poured out of her as she leaped around the area before she was predictably mobbed.
Full-time brought all the emotions out as players screamed to the sky and staff sprinted onto the field to celebrate with someone stealing the microphone of announcer Ian Downs for an impromptu karaoke to Natasha Bedingfield's 'Unwritten'.
Perhaps understandably, City weren’t at their fluid best in the opening exchanges with plenty of possession but a little lacking in purpose as there was also a degree of audible anxiety around Ashton Gate.
Emily Syme planted an early header wide from Abi Harrison’s corner but there were some warning signs from the visitors with Freda Ayisi finding space in between midfield and defence and indicating Charlton could be a dangerous force on the break.
It took the excellent Ella Powell to inject some pace into the Robins play as, on several occasions, she took her opponent on 1vs1 and sped past them, opening up attacking possibilities for the hosts. Unfortunately, though, City couldn’t make the most of the Wales international’s industry.
Harrison’s frustration was audible as she screamed to her defence for some quicker ball out from the back and moments later the Robins had the lead, albeit with some assistance from Charlton.
Kiera Skeels looked secure enough in her position to clear the ball from inside the box but a heavy touch was gleefully seized upon by Grace Clinton who took a quick look to see the position of goalkeeper Sian Rogers before rolling her finish under the Charlton No1.
Ashton Gate erupted and the sense of relief and comfort was palpable with the Dolman Stand drums starting up in accordance with the scoreline. However, it felt like City still needed a second and Shania Hayles, who had enjoyed a frustrating first 45 minutes, first under-hit a low centre into Clinton, which would have left her 1vs1 with Rogers and then planted a header straight at the Charlton goalkeeper.
That proved to be Hayles’ last meaningful involvement as she was substituted at half-time for Ffion Morgan with City looking to get the job done. And it took 61 seconds for that to happen as Harrison lined up over a corner, fired in her set piece which sailed over Rogers and over the line.
The Scot jubilantly bounced along the touchline in front of the Dolman Stand and was initially awarded the goal with a correction then made to Brooke Aspin with the defender evidently getting the final touch.
The identity of the scorer mattered little as City looked set to cruise to the end with Morgan darting down the left and nearly setting up another opportunity. However, they were given a timely reminder that they were still in a contest as Aspin misjudged an inside pass and Ayisi teed up Melissa Johnson, formerly of this parish, but Fran Bentley pulled off a truly brilliant stop to deny her an almost certain goal.
Smith’s substitutions, introducing Palmer and Chloe Mustaki, provided fresh legs before the killer third arrived as the former’s corner found the head of Aspin with the teenager racing to the touchline and celebrating with teammates and staff.
The gloss on the scoreline was then provided by Morgan’s rasping drive from 20 yards, hit at pace while on the run leaving Rogers clasping thin air with the party then kicking off in BS3.
