Kiera Skeels is proving she’s one to watch, and not just in a Reading FC Women’s shirt. She made a somewhat surprising but not totally unexpected move to Bristol City in the January transfer window having struggled to establish herself in the starting lineup for Reading.
Stiff competition from experienced summer signings Emma Mitchell and Deanna Cooper meant the defensive line was proving difficult for the academy graduate to usurp.
The young defender made her Royals first-team debut back in 2019, during a Continental Cup clash against Lewes and has come off the bench on a handful of occasions this season.
She featured in the 3-0 win for Bristol last Sunday when she was substituted on to replace Aimee Palmer in the 76th minute. Bristol were able to register their first win of the season against Brighton and first under new maternity cover boss Matt Beard.
This confidence boost was much needed for The Robins in their game against Leicester in the Continental Cup on Wednesday evening, as we saw a FA WSL Bristol face Championship promotion hopefuls Leicester City.
The game itself was a relatively quiet affair in both halves with both teams putting in a shift defensively, but step up Ebony Salmon with a striking shot from a short corner and Skeels was able to get some commendable height on a jump and headed home her effort in the 80th minute.
Bristol find themselves in the Continental Cup final for the first time in the club’s history. Can Skeels have the same impact as Bristol City will face Chelsea in the Continental League Cup Final on 14th of March at Vicarage Road?
