Match Report
City end Liverpool’s 13 match winning record
It has taken until March for Liverpool Ladies to get a home match on in 2010. With the weather clear, a strong breeze blowing and a firm dusty ground producing a lively pitch which was going to make control difficult.
The lively pitch and no doubt the lack of match practice led to numerous unforced errors in the opening exchanges. The first clear cut chances fell to Liverpool but they failed to capitalise due to lack of composure in front of goal.
After twenty minutes the twins combined when Kelly played the ball out to Vicky who returned the ball to Kelly who cut inside and closed on goal but her shot went just wide of the left post.
Liverpool contributed to City opening the scoring when they gave the ball away on the right. Lauren Beckford ran at the Liverpool defence, got into the box and beat the Liverpool Keeper with a fine shot. This should have spurred Liverpool into stepping up their game but they were finding it difficult to control the conditions and far to often their moves came to an end by either the offside flag or the ball running through to the keeper.
In the second half Liverpool were still enjoying most possession but were still not creating clear cut chances. On 56 minutes Liverpool came close when a Liverpool free kick was headed onto the bar by Jo, the returning ball was put out for a corner.
On 63 minutes Liverpool conceded a free kick on the half way line. Charlotte Farrell stepped up and lofted the ball on the wind towards the Liverpool goal. The Liverpool keeper must have lost the ball in the bright sunlight and failed to stop it dropping into the net just under the bar, this extended City’s lead to 2 – 0.
Two minutes later City threw Liverpool a life line when Abbie McManus foolishly kicked the ball away when Liverpool was awarded a free kick. The ref immediately showed the City player a yellow card, Abbie failed to curb her annoyance and was shown a red card for verbal abuse.
Liverpool now picked up the pace of the game and Fozzy was brought down by a City defender as she sped into the penalty area. Fozzy needed treatment so she was not available to take the penalty. This fell to Kelly who blasted low to the keeper’s right to narrow the deficit
With 23 minutes to go and a one man advantage Liverpool were now back in the game. Liverpool pressed continuously from that point but failed to take advantage of the chances they created and so conceded their 100% record.
