Sheffield Ladies 3 Bristol City 1: Injury to Cain mars first WSL2 win of season

Sheffield FC Ladies recorded a vital first win of the FA WSL 2 season against Bristol City Women before the league reaches its mid-season break.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd May 2016, 13:53 BST
Updated 23rd May 2016, 13:58 BST
Jodie Michalska, left, heads Sheffield FC Ladies 2-1 up. Photo: Julian BarkerJodie Michalska, left, heads Sheffield FC Ladies 2-1 up. Photo: Julian Barker
Jodie Michalska, left, heads Sheffield FC Ladies 2-1 up. Photo: Julian Barker

With the visitors having a chance to take top spot in the table and Sheffield languishing in 9th with just one goal, Willie Kirk’s side were favourites for a match where tough pitch conditions played a part in proceedings.

Goals from Chelsea Flanagan and Jodie Michalska before the break either side of Rosella Ayane’s superb effort set Sheffield well on their way before Hannah Dale added a third with 15 minutes to go.

Hannah Cain (blue) in first half action against Bristol. Cain was stretchered off in the second half after a bad injury. Photo: Julian BarkerHannah Cain (blue) in first half action against Bristol. Cain was stretchered off in the second half after a bad injury. Photo: Julian Barker
Hannah Cain (blue) in first half action against Bristol. Cain was stretchered off in the second half after a bad injury. Photo: Julian Barker
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Flanagan put Sheffield ahead within five minutes when Ellie Wilson felled Dale inside the box, the striker stepping up to send Leach the wrong way.

On loan attacker Ayane smashed home a superb strike after Emma Lipman misjudged a ball into the box but Michalska responded instantly for the hosts, brilliantly heading home Ellie Gilliatt’s free-kick.

Bristol pushed for an equaliser, Millie Farrow being denied brilliantly by Juliana Draycott before Dale’s free-kick missed everyone and nestled in the bottom corner of the Bristol goal.

The shine was taken off the win late on when Hannah Cain went down under a heavy challenge and had to be stretchered off with her left leg in a brace. But Sheffield held on to record a first win for Zoe Johnson.

Hannah Cain (blue) in first half action against Bristol. Cain was stretchered off in the second half after a bad injury. Photo: Julian BarkerHannah Cain (blue) in first half action against Bristol. Cain was stretchered off in the second half after a bad injury. Photo: Julian Barker
Hannah Cain (blue) in first half action against Bristol. Cain was stretchered off in the second half after a bad injury. Photo: Julian Barker

* Factfile -

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Sheffield FC Ladies 3 (Flanagan 4, Michalska 43, Dale 70), Bristol City Women 1 (Ayane 33).

Sheffield FC (4-3-3): Juliana Draycott; Danielle Cox, Billie Murphy, Emma Lipman, Ellie Gilliatt; Sherry McCue, Hannah Dale, Jodie Michalska; Hannah Cain, Chelsea Flanagan, Hope Knight

Substitutes: Emma Johnson for Knight 70, Chloe Dixon for Cain 88, Kenedy Owen for Flanagan 90

Substitutes not used: Francesca Sullivan, Rhema Lord-Mears, Emily Owen, Clare Wallhead

Booking: Jodie Michalska 90

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Bristol City (4-3-3): Caitlin Leach; Loren Dykes, Grace McCatty, Ellie Wilson, Megan Alexander; Chloe Arthur, Jodie Brett, Georgia Evans; Tatiana Pinto, Millie Farrow, Rosella Ayane

Substitutes: Olivia Fergusson for Alexander 65, Poppy Wilson for Evans 72, Flo Allen for Pinto 90

Substitutes not used: Hannah Reid, Frankie Brown, Emma Tustin, Katie Jones

Referee: Ian Dudley

Attendance: 329

*To buy tickets to an FA Women’s Super League match near you click here: http://www.ticketstores.co.uk/fawsl/