Women’s football Healy frustrated with first-half display in draw at Newcastle

CHARLOTTE Healy was disappointed with her side’s first-half performance in Bristol City Women’s draw with Newcastle United, although she felt their second-half showing was deserving of all three points.

- DanCARTER

The Robins missed the chance to climb up to third in the WSL 2 as they conceded late on to draw 2-2 with the Magpies on Sunday afternoon. A Rio Hardy brace looked to have wrapped up the points for City after Oona Sevenius'’ first-half goal, but a late Lois Joel strike ensured there was nothing to split the two sides.

Newcastle took the lead on the stroke of halftime when Sevenius found the top right corner with a close-range effort, but Hardy levelled early in the second half as she turned home following a smart short corner routine. The forward’s second of the afternoon had the Robins ahead, until Joel beat Fran Bentley from range in the 89th minute.

Naturally, the manner of the late leveller left Healy frustrated following the full-time whistle, but it was her side’s showing in the opening 45 minutes that played a bigger role in her emotion post-match.

“T was really disappointed with the first-half performance, to be honest,’ the head coach told City's media team. “We were so far off of where we've been.