FA WSL: Strong start for Birmingham

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Birmingham City Ladies’ started their FA WSL season with a victory that was as one sided as the scoreline suggested with Bristol Academy struggling to get near their opponents. Birmingham City Ladies 4 – Bristol Academy 0.

Rachel Williams and player of the match Karen Carney destroyed the Bristol defence and scored two goals each to set up the perfect season start for the Blues.

The home fans did not have long to wait to see Birmingham’s first attack on goal with midfielder Jade Moore hitting a 15-yard shot inches wide of the post. But four minutes later, Williams opened the scoring for City with a shot high into the right of the net. Carney had delivered a perfect right-wing cross into the path of Williams who only had the goalkeeper to beat.

The Bristol Academy goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain did very well in front of a defence that was often overrun by a Birmingham side who passed the ball excellently. In the 24th minute, Chamberlain tipped a Williams header round the post for a corner but could do little three minutes later when Birmingham got their second.

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The same Carney-Williams combination was to thank, with the latter heading home a right-wing cross with the ball just inches from the ground, two yards out.

Carney looked a class above her fellow players and on the 37th minute she got the goal she deserved when she ran on to a ball ten yards out and hit her finish high into the back of the net.

Bristol did not improve in the second half and the home side played the game out without permitting Bristol a meaningful attempt on goal.

In the 70th minute, Carney scored her second and Birmingham’s fourth with a neat finish from the edge of the area. When Williams’ shot from the same distance was saved but Carney made no mistake with the rebound.

That left Birmingham with 20 minutes to pass the ball around against a demoralised Bristol side.

Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

Image credit: The FA via Getty Images

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