FOOTBALL-WOMEN – Reggae Girl Hayles fires Bristol City to victory over title rivals

LONDON, CMC – Reggae Girl Shania Hayles took her goal tally for the season to eight as Bristol City defeated English FA Women’s Championship leaders London City Lionesses 3-1, but head coach Lauren Smith says they have no room for complacency.

London City still tops the table, with Bristol second, but Smith’s team trail only on goal difference and has a game in hand over their promotion rivals.

Bristol, who are unbeaten in their past four matches, next face Lewes on Sunday.

“There’s no complacency. Feet are firmly on the ground,” Smith said after Wednesday’s victory.

“We can’t have a good performance and a good win, then drop that down again.

“This has to be a bit of a restart and kick to make sure that we push through now and focus on how we do that in the next few games.

“This win keeps us in a good position, [but] it could all change by the end of the week if we don’t put the work in.”

Bristol City has only lost once this season in the league. Still, Smith said Wednesday’s match at the club’s High-Performance Centre was a “must-win” for the side, who missed out on an automatic return to the Women’s Super League last year after finishing behind champions Liverpool.

Only one team earns a promotion from the women’s second tier each season.

The 23-year-old Hayles, Bristol City’s top scorer, broke the deadlock against London City 38 minutes after Aimee Palmer played a lovely diagonal ball in behind, which Hayles controlled expertly before cutting inside and firing into the bottom corner.

After the break with the teams locked at 1-1, new signing Grace Clinton scored her second goal for the club after joining on loan from Manchester United, and Ffion Morgan got their third to secure the win.

Hayles’ free-scoring Reggae Girlz’ team-mate Khadija “Bunny” Shaw drew a blank as holders Manchester City lost 1-0 to Arsenal in Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final.

Arsenal, the five-time winners, now face Chelsea, who thrashed West Ham United 7-0 in Thursday’s second semi-final, in the final on March 5 at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park.