Ladies fall at semi-final hurdle
Liverpool Ladies were eliminated from the FA Women's Cup after their 2-1 semi-final defeat to Arsenal at Anfield on Friday evening.
Natasha Dowie struck on the stroke of half-time to cancel out Ellen White's first-half opener.
However, unfortunately for Matt Beard's side, the visitors struck again through Kim Little to seal the Gunners' passage into the final of the competition.
Arsenal will now face either Bristol Academy or Lincoln in the last round at the Keepmoat stadium.
In a fiercely-contested opening, the visitors found space for two attempts but were foiled by their own wayward shooting.
White latched onto a loose ball and released a 25-yard shot that flew high and wide before Rachel Yankey wasted a more inviting opportunity.
The winger cut inside past full-back Becky Easton down the left flank but sliced an effort well wide of the near post.
The most glorious chance of the early stages was presented to Liverpool's Katrin Omarsdottir in the 13th minute.
Nicole Rolser whipped in an accurate cross that the onrushing midfielder raced to meet with a header. Unfortunately for Omarsdottir, she failed to make enough contact as the ball was glanced wide of the far post.
The Reds were made to rue that missed opportunity when the Gunners broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.
A long, hopeful ball was played from deep that fortuitously soared over the backline and into the path of White. Sarah Quintall charged out of her net but was beaten to the ball by the striker, who slid to prod it past her and into a gaping net.
That would prove not to be the only occasion where White had a clear sight of goal as the forward came frighteningly close to extending Arsenal's lead three times in the first 45 minutes.
The first of which came 10 minutes after her opening when she had the woodwork shaking.
White instinctively raced towards the near post to meet Little's fizzing cross and flicked the ball onto the post with the outside of her foot.
A couple of minutes after, White appeared destined to atone for her previous error when she created ample space for herself in Liverpool's box.
The striker beat Whitney Engen to Jordan Nobbs's cross before cleverly turning past the defender and leaving her grounded. With a clear sight of goal from nine yards, the forward fired straight at Quantill who parried away the danger.
White's misfiring continued as she completely missed the target in the 45th minute.
The No.9 surged received a pass from Gemma Davison before surging into the 18-yard box and dragging a low shot across the face of goal.
White's misery was compounded when Dowie - her opposite number - proved to be more clinical in front of goal in added time.
The Gunners' attempt at clearing Liverpool's initial attack was futile as Louise Fors curled a dangerous cross towards the six-yard box that Dowie met with a dramatic diving header that sent the ball crashing into the net.
Sadly, the Reds' failed to remain on terms long into the second period before Arsenal regained the lead in the 53rd minute.
Similar to the visitors' opening strike, the ball was lifted over Liverpool's rearguard - this time the pass was to Little. The midfielder collected the ball before drilling it past Quantill and into the far corner.
That didn't deter the Reds as they fought to level the scoring yet again in the final half an hour.
With little over 25 minutes remaining, the energetic Rolser attempted to bring the home side a second goal in extravagant circumstances.
The midfielder burst through the centre of midfield before spotting goalkeeper Emma Byrne off her line. This prompted the No.11 to try an audacious 20-yard chip that unfortunately flew over the crossbar.
Arsenal nearly stung the Reds in the 68th minute when Davison side-footed narrowly wide from Nobbs's cross.
That proved to be the final threat that the Gunners posed before an extended period of pressure from the Reds ensued.
Despite the efforts of Beard's side, their pressing failed to draw any goalmouth action before the valiant Reds bowed out of the competition admirably.
LFC: Quantill, Engen, Williams, Bonner (c), Bronze, Omarsdottir, Dowie, Fors (Billson 79), Rolser, Easton (Schroder 61), Da Costa.