BETH Lumsden scored her first goal as Saints fought from behind again to hold Championship leaders Bristol City 1-1 at Ashton Gate.

Lumsden bagged 27 in 33 for Oxford United before her summer move south and was delighted to get onto the scoresheet for the first time in new colours right after the break.

She pulled her side level after Ffion Morgan’s opener marked what was a dominant first-half from the hosts, but after woodwork clips and impressive goalkeeping nobody ran out winners.

Saints visited Ashton Gate with the hosts top of the division having won all three matches without so much as the concession of a goal.

City were a WSL side just two seasons ago but it is a new look team, with only two of the playing group and a handful of coaches sticking around for last season.

Saints defeated City with a goal from Ella Morris in extra-time of an FA Cup clash last campaign, but the Vixens did go on to push for promotion – finishing third.

That remains their goal, while Morris admitted in the build-up to this match there is no pressure for Saints to push that end of the table, instead needing to solidify their Championship status.

They laid down a marker with a first win at this level at then-league leaders Crystal Palace, at Selhurst Park, thanks to two goals from Lexi Lloyd-Smith last weekend.

Both Lloyd-Smith and Morris started for Marieanne Spacey-Cale in BS3, but it was captain Rosie Parnell who was busy keeping Abi Harrison at bay inside the opening 10 minutes.

Megan Collett almost gifted City an opener when her pass back to goalkeeper Kayla Rendell was too short and left Harrison lurking but the clearance ricocheted off the forward and out for a goal kick.

The hosts controlled throughout the first-half and their pressure paid off after 30 minutes when a through-ball left Morgan in acres of space in the area to find the top corner.

The only half-opening for Saints had come through Lloyd-Smith snatching possession in the final third but it came to nothing, while Rendell had to produce magic to deny Harrison from close-range.

The inexperience at this level showed when Katie Wilkinson – a two-time Championship player of the year – barked ‘OUT’ as Megan Collett gifted possession erratically attempted to head an unnecessary ball that was going out for a Saints throw.

Spacey-Cale responded by changing Ashleigh Ward for Milly Mott at half-time and it paid off immediately with Lumsden latching onto an Ella Morris square ball and finishing her first for Saints.

Laura Rafferty produced a close-range clearance on a goalbound shot after the hour and the home side later hit the crossbar with a speculative long-range effort, but Saints were confident.

Wilkinson could have done more with a finish after creating space in the area, while Rendell produced a footed intervention deep in five minutes of added time to keep safe the point.

Bristol City: Bentley: Cataldo, Layzell, Bruce, Powell, Palmer, Syme, Mustaki, Morgan, Harrison, Hayles.

Subs: Clark, Boddy, C.Bull, Hutton, J.Bull, Wilde, Woolley, Teisar.

Saints: Rendell: Morris, Parnell, Rafferty, Collett, Watling (Rutherford, 77), Ward (Mott, h-t), Griffiths, Lloyd-Smith (Wynne, 77), Lumsden (Pusey, 90), Wilkinson (Williams, 90).

Unused subs: Freeland, Harris.

Referee: Ella Broad.

Attendance: 3,637.

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