3-1 v Bristol City - 8 October 2023 - Home

Two quite magnificent strikes from our Finland internationals Eveliina Summanen and Olga Ahtinen helped secure a first victory in the 2023/34 Women's Super League and for our new Head Coach, Robert Vilahamn.

Confidence was clearly high after last week's fine performance despite a 2-1 defeat at four-time champions Chelsea and Vilahamn's unchanged team were quickly into the ascendancy at Brisbane Road. Despite that, we were given a warning when the visitors had the first effort on goal as Becky Spencer was alert to save down to her left from Ffion Morgan.

We took over from there as Thomas poked just wide, Summanen had somewhat of a practice run from a free-kick, curling wide from 30 yards and Thomas just failed to connect with Ahtinen's dangerous low cross.

Ahtinen and Summanen were pulling the string centrally by now and it was no surprise to see the pair combine for the opener. Summanen picked her compatriot in space 30 yards out and Ahtinen didn't think twice, controlling and letting fly, connecting with such a sweet strike that Marckese could do little as the ball fizzed past her.

It was soon 2-0 with a goal that owed much to Thomas' industry up front, simply refusing to allow Marckese time to clear, charging down the clearance and seeing the rewards as the ball bounced into the empty net. Grace Clinton was then upended just outside the box and Summanen stroked the free-kick over the wall into the top corner, a thing of beauty for 3-0.

To their credit, City found a response at the start of the second half, Jamie-Lee Napier headed wide and Spencer denied Morgan again before Summanen was penalised for handball in the box, Thestrup making no mistake from the penalty spot for 3-1.

We gradually regained control with Jess Naz looking lively off the bench - she drilled a 30-yarder that Marckese did well to clutch at full stretch, Summanen headed just wide, Thomas looked set to tap home Kit Graham's cross before Naomi Layzell intervened and Neville hit a trademark shot from distance just wide. All in all, an impressive first win of the season.