Everton had a penalty saved in stoppage time as Bristol won a crucial and exhilarating promotion-chasing tussle.
Claire Emslie scored either side of Millie Farrow’s effort to put the Vixens 3-1 up but Danielle Turner scrambled home to give Everton a chance (at 3-2). And when the hosts were awarded their second penalty of the game, in the 96th min, it seemed like a draw was on the cards but Caitlin Leach saved from Claudia Walker (who had netted the from the spot to level the scores earlier in the game) and sparked scenes of celebration and relief.
“I didn’t want to think about what it might be like to get promoted because I didn’t want to jinx it but we’re there now and it feels fantastic. Now we want to win the league next weekend,” Emslie told FAWSL.com.
“It just feels a bit surreal right now. The game as a whole was really good for us and then obviously with the late penalty it was nearly all gone in the end.
“This has been our goal, it’s been the club’s goal all season.”
“We’re delighted with promotion,” said Bristol boss Willie Kirk. “We’re trying to keep a lid on it because we want to win the league but we’re delighted we’re up – it takes a little bit of pressure off,” he said.
“We’d still be happy going up in second because we’d be in FA WSL 1 next season but we want to win the league and Yeovil have two hard games left.
“We won’t be going out next week against Oxford for a Sunday stroll just because we’re up.
