By Dan Brian

A goal in each half was enough to sink the Mitres, who rarely threatened their hosts on a chilly afternoon in Bristol.

A quiet opening 10 minutes culminated in Brunel firing wide from a corner. Their effort fizzed just past the post as the home side became the first team to come close to opening the scoring.

A moment later, however, Cleeve responded, with a good Jess Stirling run and effort being denied only by an impressive save from the goalkeeper. Nothing came from said corner, though, as a foul on a Brunel defender gave the hosts a free kick inside their own box.

With 22 minutes gone and the score still 0-0, Brunel tried their luck from outside the box, and were unlucky to see it fly just over the bar.

A foul by Stirling gave the hosts a chance to get the ball into the box with 20 minutes of the first half remaining. A player was there to meet it with her head, but again, their effort was off target.

A later opportunity to take the lead in the first half came in similar fashion, as a free header at the back-post was headed over following a corner. A big let off for Cleeve.

Minutes later, a great save from Mitres goalkeeper Lexi Jones once again prevented the hosts from breaking the deadlock. A great run down the left set the opportunity up, but Jones’ outstretched leg denied their centre-forward.

With four minutes to go before the half time whistle, the hosts took the lead, finishing off a nice team move from close range.

Two minutes later, their advantage was nearly doubled in a very similar situation, but their shot went wide for a Cleeve goal kick.

The first shot of the second 45 went to Cleeve, as captain Sophie Taylor tried her luck from distance after a Mitres corner was cleared. It would’ve taken a lot to beat the ‘keeper from there, but she wasn’t far off.

Brunel’s first attempt since the restart came from a free-kick, and they were unlucky to see it hit the post. Very close to their second.

With 10 minutes to go, the home side finally got a corner routine right as they doubled their advantage with a fine finish.

Leonie Gough’s late yellow card summed up the afternoon from a Bishops Cleeve perspective perfectly, but 2-0 against the unbeaten league leaders isn’t a terrible result all things considered.

Attention now turns to next weekend’s trip to Cirencester, where the winner will book their slot in the semi-finals of the Gloucestershire County Cup.