Women's Report: Saints 1-1 Bristol City

After a tense first half with no breakthrough, Aimee Palmer’s fine free-kick opened the scoring in style for Saints just minutes into the second period.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith equalised just after the hour on her first return to St Mary’s Stadium, as neither side could find a winner.

The draw was Saints’ first in the Barclays Women’s Championship for 546 days, as their unique streak came to an end on matchday one of the new term.

Saints' first side of 2024/25. (Photos: Chris Moorhouse)

Fran Stenson started in goal as one of five summer signings making a full Saints debut.

Tara Bourne, Aimee Palmer, Freya Gregory and Rachel Rowe were the other debutants for Remi Allen’s first competitive selection.

Last season’s relegated Women’s Super League side, Bristol City, came into the campaign as one of a number of teams tipped to challenge at the top of the table come the end of the season.

It was no surprise then, that the visitors were out of the blocks quickly with a chance for ex-Saint Lloyd-Smith, who blazed over the bar after just 20 seconds.

There was little to report in terms of chances during a cagey, physical first half, with half chances for Bristol City the only real action of note.

A tight battle on matchday one.

Lloyd-Smith fired over from the edge of the area after a slight mix-up in defence, before Amalie Thestrup saw a shot saved by Stenson on the counter attack.

Saints slowly grew into the encounter as the first opportunity fell to Molly Pike, who directed a shot just wide after being picked out by Freya Gregory’s inch-perfect cross.

After both sides lacked a real spark in the goalless first half, it took less than two minutes of the second period for the game to burst into life.

Rachel Rowe’s battling play won a free-kick on the left side of the area, which fellow summer signing Palmer lined up to take.

The midfielder stepped up and, with a cross looking the more likely option, caught everyone out by bending the ball past Fran Bentley at the near post.

There was lift off at St Mary’s, and the spark both sides needed to up their game.

Aimee Palmer is mobbed by teammates.

Bristol City came close to an equaliser through Sille Struck, who had already ruffled the feathers of the Saints support in the first half; her header struck the post before she lifted the rebound over.

The response arrived through a familiar face just after the hour, however, as Lloyd-Smith tucked home from inside the area and wheeled away in celebration in front of a lively crowd.

All square then, but the visitors should have had another in the 75th minute when Amy Rodgers couldn’t connect with Mari Ward’s inviting cross from close range.

The game then slowed, as both sides tussled with the idea of pushing for a winner whilst not sacrificing a point.

Substitute Alice Griffiths hit a stoppage time effort into Fran Bentley’s arms after Bristol City forced some pressure of their own, but a winner didn’t materialise for either team.

Saints: Stenson, Collett, Mott, Bourne, Purfield (c), Kendall, Palmer (Griffiths 69), Gregory (Brown 80), Rowe, Dean (Thompson 76), Pike.

Subs not used: Haaland, Milne, Peake, Primus, Nohasiarisoa, Watts.

Goals: Palmer 47.

Yellow Cards: Griffiths 85.

Bristol City: Bentley, Powell, Struck, Harrison (Bull 90+8), Rodgers, Lloyd-Smith (Woolley 68), Ward, Napier (c), Syme, Thestrup (Teisar 76), Bennett.

Subs not used: Burns, Humphries, Earl, Durrant, Pearce, Kendell.

Goals: Lloyd-Smith 61.

Yellow Cards: Thestrup 43, Powell 45+3.

Referee: Stacey Fullicks

Attendance: 1622.