Birmingham Ladies vs Man City Women. Women's Super League.
Sunday 29 March 2015 19:21, UK
Birmingham rallied after Freda Ayisi was sent off to hold Manchester City to a 0-0 draw in their opening game of the FA Women’s Super League season.
Ayisi was sent off for violent conduct just before the break, but despite the best efforts of England striker Toni Duggan, City could not find a way through the home defence.
Meanwhile Gemma Davison scored in both halves as Chelsea got their campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-1 win at Notts County.
The first chance of Birmingham's game fell to Manchester City's Nikita Parris but the striker’s shot from inside the box was easily collected by keeper Becky Spencer.
Duggan was then denied by Spencer while through on goal, before Duggan’s England team-mate Karen Bardsley saved Jo Potter’s long-range effort on 21 minutes.
That was Birmingham’s first effort on target but Bardsley was needed again soon after, stretching full length to deny another fine Potter strike.
And moments before half time, Ayisi was shown a red card after an altercation in the box with Bardsley leading up to a corner.
The duel between Duggan and Spencer continued into the second half but the latter continued to have the upper-hand.
Duggan failed to connect properly with a good chance in the area and then cut inside only for Spencer to make a stop.
Emily Westwood curled narrowly wide for the home side in their best chance of the second half, as Birmingham secured a hard-earned point.
Chelsea had to battle hard to earn the points at County.
Davison moved to Chelsea from champions Liverpool over the winter and made a quick impression in the league opener, scoring a second-half penalty after Rachel Williams had cancelled out her opener.
On the quarter-hour mark Davison forced Lady Pies goalkeeper Carly Telford into a smart save, before Drew Spence flicked narrowly wide.
Chelsea made the breakthrough in the 22nd minute however when Spence fed the ball through to Davison, who poked the ball into the back of the net.
The Lady Pies were not behind for long however as former Chelsea striker Williams powerfully headed home an Alex Greenwood corner on 26 minutes to level the game.
Jess Clarke and Sophie Walton were proving to be a thorn in Chelsea’s side as their influence on the game increased in the second half.
However a rash challenge in the box from County’s Amy Turner on 74 minutes allowed Davison to score her second of the match from the penalty spot.
