Shania Hayles' ice-cool finish sent Bristol City top of the Women’s Championship as they edged out Sunderland 1-0 maintaining their perfect start to the 2022/23 season.
It was looking like City would leave the Robins High Performance Centre frustrated by the visitors as they went in search of their third win in three. But Hayles’ calm second-half finish past Claudia Moan grabbed all three points and her second goal for the Robins since her summer move from top-flight side Aston Villa.
The win pulls the home side, who are yet to concede a goal this season, three points clear of the chasing pack and leaves Sunderland 11th with just a point to their name.
“The first half they sat back and we had to try and find ways through and as soon as we got the goal we could see that they came out," said City manager Lauren Smith.
“But all over the pitch it was physical, runs for long balls, challenges for aerial balls. But I thought the players did really well in terms of that. We managed the game for large parts of it, but maybe let them slip into it at the end of the game which meant it was a bit tenser than I’d like.
“Shania is a goalscorer. It’s great to have so many different goalscorers for these moments. She battled hard in the first half in a physical battle, but then got the space that she needed and it was a very clinical finish. But she does it all the time so I’m not surprised by it. I’m sure there’s many, many more to come.”
The hosts dominated the ball in the opening exchanges, but the first two meaningful chances fell to the visitors, firstly Brianna Westrup directing her header wide from a corner.
Then midway through the first half City’s summer signing Vicky Bruce had to be alive to block fellow new recruit Danielle Brown’s goal-bound effort.
City’s all-time top scorer Abi Harrison did have the ball in the back of the net two minutes before the break, but she was adjudged to have fouled keeper Moan in the build-up.
The breakthrough came just before the hour mark when Hayles skipped clear and the Jamaican kept her nerve to slot home.
Jesse Woolley had a goal ruled out for offside with 20 minutes remaining, but the home side wouldn’t need it as they held on to ensure the win.
“We always knew they were a very physical team and a good team so you can never underestimate them, and they came and showed that," Hayles said. "Sometimes it’s just one chance that you get and luckily we took it. We got the clean sheet as well which is obviously a positive so nine points and hopefully more to come.
“I’ll probably look back at it and see that there was [a lot of distance to travel to the goal]. But at half-time Jennifer [Foster] spoke about getting on the right, going forward and then cutting in, so that worked. I just wanted to get in front of the defender and slotted it home. It was a good goal.
“I’m loving my time at Bristol City. Just the freedom to play is the best thing, and the girls are lovely so I’m settling in really nicely. I can carry on getting more goals and getting more points and the end goal is to get promoted.”
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