Women's Report: Bristol City 3-2 Saints
Southampton FC Women continued their pre-season schedule with a narrow defeat against league-rivals Bristol City.
Remi Allen's side travelled to recently relegated Bristol City as their preparation and opposition went up a level ahead of the Barclays Women's Championship season.
Facing an early test against their opening day opponents, Saints looked strong from the start and took the lead just after the half hour mark.
Atlanta Primus found the back of the net to open the scoring as Saints held a one-goal lead at half-time.
Shortly after the break, however, Bristol City hit back as Jesse Woolley levelled proceedings minutes into the second half.
Parity didn't last long though, as Molly Pike's effort put Saints back in the lead with 55 minutes on the clock.
Last season's WSL side responded once more in an equally quick fashion through Carrie Jones, who found the Robins' second equaliser just before the hour mark.
Both sides seemed locked at 2-2 as the second half wore on, with several changes made and a handful of Under-21s handed more first team pre-season minutes for Saints.
However, four minutes from time, Maddie Durrant found the eventual winner for the hosts as Bristol City snatched the victory from a competitive encounter.
Bristol City: N/A.
Goals: Woolley 47, Jones 60, Durrant 86.
Saints: Stenson, Brown, Peake, Bourne, Purfield, Griffiths, Primus, Kendall, Rowe, Gregory, Thompson.
Subs used: Mott, Milne, Collett, Nohasiarisoa, Surin, Watts, Mallon, Bedwell, Dean, Pike.
Subs not used: Prout.
Goals: Primus 33, Pike 55.
