LONDON, CMC – Reggae Girl Shania Hayles scored, but her Bristol City squandered many chances to go down on penalties to Reading Women in the FA Women’s League Cup on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old UK-born forward put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute at Robins High-Performance Centre before Reading leveled through Charlie Wellings in the 86th minute.
Bristol City then lost the subsequent penalty shootout, 4-3, with Jessica Naz and Kit Graham missing their spot kicks.
Despite the defeat, Bristol City head coach Lauren Smith said she was pleased to see Hayles back on the scoresheet.
“It was great to see Shan back out there firing [after] having a couple of injuries across the other games she’s played,” Smith said.
“She looked sharp tonight, so I’m pleased with that.”
Hayles’s goal came when Mari Ward got behind the Reading Women’s defense and squared for Hayles, who produced a clinical finish.
Ward then spurned two great opportunities to extend Bristol’s lead when she shaved the crossbar with a strong volley and struck the woodwork in the second half.
Bristol was then forced to pay dearly for their wastefulness in front of the goal when Wellings equalized, and the penalty shootout then went against them.
“I think overall, there’s a bit of disappointment. We created quite a few chances, especially in the first half. We were just not clinical enough,” Smith continued.
“So I think we could’ve buried this game, but unfortunately, we let them back into it with a chance … tonight our performance levels just weren’t there.”
The loss was Bristol’s second on penalties in the competition following their opening defeat to Southampton.
and then 