Six Brighton players were on target as the visitors held off a spirited Bristol City fightback to secure a thrilling 7-3 victory over their fellow Women’s Super League strugglers at Ashton Gate.

Norway striker Elisabeth Terland fired Albion in front on 20 minutes and Pauline Bremer doubled their lead four minutes later.

City captain Megan Connolly pulled one back from a free-kick two minutes into the second half, only for Terland to register again soon after, with Tatiana Pinto then adding a fourth on 64 minutes.

That was the cue for City to stage a comeback, Brooke Aspin and Amalie Thestrup scoring twice in the space of three minutes to set up a dramatic finale, but substitute Madison Haley, Vicky Losada (penalty) and Katie Robinson added late goals to give Brighton the points in style.

The result gave interim head coach Mikey Harris’ side an eight-point advantage over bottom-of-the-table City.

Without a win in 10 WSL games dating back to November 5 and still to keep a clean sheet this season, City were understandably low on confidence and the visitors took full advantage to score twice inside the opening 24 minutes.

Terland grabbed the opener, arriving at the back post to turn the ball in from close range after Julia Zigiotti had helped on Losada’s corner, and Brighton extended their lead when German midfielder Bremer rolled the ball into an unprotected net after her first effort had come back off the post.

As so often this season, City sprung into life after falling behind, Carrie Jones testing Brighton keeper Sophie Baggaley with a curling shot from the edge of the 18-yard box, while Lisa Evans fluffed her lines when presented with a clear sight of goal.

Connolly got the hosts back in it three minutes after the break, curling a superb free-kick beyond Baggaley and into the top-right corner of the net after Amy Rodgers had been brought down on the edge of the box.

But Brighton restored their two-goal advantage six minutes later, Terland picking up a loose ball 16 yards out and beating Olivia Clark with a precise finish to register her 11nth goal of the season.

Pinto then put Brighton further in front in the 64th minute, at which point the game appeared to be over as a meaningful contest.

But Aspin headed in from a corner to keep the Robins in the hunt and, when Thestrup netted with a shot from 12 yards after being fed by Ffion Morgan, City were right back in contention.

Brighton withstood further pressure, however, and put the result beyond doubt with three late strikes.

Haley poked home from close range in the 89th minute, Losada converted from the spot in the 92nd after Robinson was fouled by Connolly and Robinson completed the rout in the sixth of 10 minutes of added time.