BLUES STARTED OFF WITH A FIVE STAR DISPLAY TO DESTORY THE ROBINS

Blues put in a five star display Sunday afternoon at St Andrews @knighthead park beating Bristol City 5-1 and two debutants got their first goals for the club in Lily Crosthwaite and Batcheba Louis.

Amy gave debuts to 3 players on the day, Chelsea Cornett, Lily Crosthwaite and Lucy Newell and ofcourse there was the return of Veatriki Sarri back in a blues shirt. Former Blues player Gemma Lawley was in the starting line up for Bristol City in Charlotte Healys first league game in charge.

FIRST HALF 

The first opportunity of the game was the opening goal for Blues when my 2024/25 player of the season Rebecca Holloway crossed the ball into the box and Simone Magill brilliantly turned it home passed Fran Bentley to make it 1-0 Blues in the sixth minute.

In the eighth minute Simone was in the box again but this time her shot went wide for a throw in.

Blues did double the advantage in the thirteenth minute when some great combination play between Sarri and Holloway ended up with Becks again finding Magill who put it through Bentleys legs to make it 2-0 Blues.

However in the eighteenth minute the Robins pulled a goal back when a corner from Emily Syme wasn’t cleared by the Blues defence and it landed to Maria Farrugia who tapped the ball home to give a lifeline.

In the twentieth minute Blues were on the attack again with Lily Crosthwaite shot was saved from Bentley and in the 27^th minute a Sarri corner was head over from Lucy Newell.

Blues continued to pile on the pressure and in the 33rd minute a freekick from Christie Harrison-Murray was headed wide from Chelsea Cornet.

The Robins didn’t give up and inthe 39^th minute a brilliant run from Emily Syme who went pass three players got into the box, but her shot was saved from Lucy Thomas.

The last chance of the half was when Veatriki Sarri shot was saved from Bentley.

HALF TIME BLUES 2-1 BRISTOL CITY 

SECOND HALF 

The first chance in the second half was the third goal for Blues when Lee Geum-Min found Lily Crosthwaite in the box and fired it pass Bentley to make it 3-1 and the first for the club a great moment for Lily.

The next chance of the game came for the visitors when Vicky Losada got into the box and her effort was well saved from Thomas in the 49th minute.

Then Lily Crosthwaite could have made it a brace in her home debut but brought out the best out of Fran Bentley in the 56^th minute. A minute later Blues made it 4-1 when a Lily Crosthwaite won the ball and the ball fell to the Scottish Maestro Christie Harrison-Murray and her shot found the top corner of the net no chance for Bentley a magnificent goal to win any football match

The next chance came for the visitors when Rio Hardy went into the box, and her shot was saved by Thomas in the 59^th minute. 

Blues could have made it five when my player of the match Rebecca Mckenna shot was deflected of a Bristol City player and brought out the best out of Fran Bentley a brilliant save from the Robins Goalkeeper. Bentley made another brilliant save this time from Magill’s header  in the 70th minute.

Then another debutant could have gotten on the scoresheet when Batcheba Louis header went over the bar in the 73^rd minute. Two minutes later the Haitian International did get her first goal in a Blues shirt when Louis intercepted a Bristol City pass and calmly tucked it away pass Fran Bentley to make it 5-1 and brilliant day for Amy and the girls in Blue.

The last chance of the game came for Blues when Louis broke free from the Robins defence and hit the post it rebounded to Lucy Quinn but her effort was cleared of the line from the Bristol City defence.

FULL TIME BLUES WOMEN 5-1 BRISTOL CITY WOMEN

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME 

A great start and dominant performance for Amys Women in blue. The stats were ridiculous after having 29 shots in the game with 14 on target. Blues fully deserved this victory they were more clinical than the Robins. Blues team isn’t at full strength yet with the return of Lily Agg and we haven’t yet to seen Oceane Hurtre in a Blues shirt. This was a really tricky test for Amy and her side but came through it in flying colours and if this is the standard of this team then this season is going to be an exciting one. Our number nine, Simone Magill has started where she left of from last season in superb form getting a brace for us and Amy, the first was a great touch and the second was a real poachers finish which we have been missing since letting Jade Pennock go. I think Simone will be a contender for the golden boot at the end of the season. The new additions have been a joy to see especially Lily Crosthwaite getting her first goal for the club on Sunday afternoon and will definitely be a fan favourite . Also, another debutant who will be a fan favourite is Batcheba Louis also getting her first for the club and will give WSL2 defenders nightmares and think she will get into double figures also. Newell and the returning of Vertriki Sarri had solid games. 

let’s talk about the Scottish maestro, Christie Harrison-Murray. That strike was an amazing goal and would have been a classic to win any game, she has seen the dark days of the club when she signed for us five years ago from Liverpool and it be just rewards if she picks up the WSL2 Title in May. I’m not getting carried away as know there will be plenty of twists and turns from now to the end of the season.

MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH

I have to give it to Rebecca Mckenna a brilliant performance from the Northern Ireland International and defender really well its a shame she could finish it of with a goal.

UP NEXT 

We travel up to the stadium of light to face Sunderland and it will kick off at 14:00. And also it will be live on the WSL2 YouTube channel.

STEPHEN GILL KRO