City Women victorious over Saints.

Bristol City Women ran out 2-1 winners over fellow WSL2 side Southampton in what was their sixth pre-season fixture.

A free-kick from Emily Syme and a sensational effort from Maria Farrugia were enough to get the job done at the Robins High Performance Centre.

Charlotte Healy’s side had conceded first after a brilliant strike from Niamh Murphy but showed character to find a way back and win the game.

Summer signings Alexia Apostolakis, Lotta Lindström and Brooke Aspin all started for City.

It was The Robins who started brightest in the opening twenty minutes in BS8.

Emily Syme and Katie Robinson carved out City’s first clear chance, combining well on the right-hand side with the latter's delivery inches away from the on-rushing Hardy.

Against the run of play, the visitors broke the deadlock with Niamh Murphy’s looping effort sent well above and beyond Fran Bentley.

Southampton came close to a second soon after, but City’s shot-stopper got down well to her left-hand side, denying a fierce strike from close range.

After a positive half-hour stint, Katie Robinson made way for Maria Farrugia but it was captain Emily Syme that found an equaliser ten minutes later, bending a free-kick around Saints’ wall and into the bottom right corner.

City then came close to finding a second just moments before the break, Lindström’s delivery was near inch-perfect for Hardy, but her header was just wide of the target.

Upon the hour mark, after a wave of chances, City did eventually extend their lead, this time through substitute Farrugia.

The ball fell kindly for the Maltese international whose strike from outside the area nestled into the top corner, well beyond the reach of Saints stopper, Moloney.

The visitors came close to drawing level not long after but Bentley once again stood strong to deny any chance of an equaliser.

After the introductions of Emma Bissell, Issi Hebard, Oliwia Woś, Ella Powell and Lia O’Leary, City closed the game out comfortably while they went in search of a third.

They’ll head to Tottenham next weekend in what will be their 7th and final pre-season fixture before beginning the WSL2 campaign with a visit to Sunderland the week after.