Xabi-style lob keeps Ladies' hopes alive

The England midfielder smashed an unstoppable lob from the halfway line over the goalkeeper and in with just minutes remaining - and seconds after an equaliser - to claim victory in dramatic style.

It keeps the Ladies in contention for a successive championship honour, closing the gap to the leaders to a single point with two fixtures apiece left to navigate.

A surprise defeat for Chelsea Ladies at Notts County on Saturday evening had opened the door for the Reds to significantly narrow the lead at the summit of the table.

Operating with an altered 3-5-2 formation, Matt Beard's team were in dynamic form at Solihull Moors and thoroughly deserved their deadlock-breaker when it arrived.

With the clock showing 28 minutes, Martha Harris advanced beyond a succession of defenders along the left and darted into dangerous territory before unleashing a shot at goal.

Her effort was blocked by Birmingham but spun out to Amanda Da Costa, who wasted little time in blasting the rebound past the goalkeeper for her first strike of the league campaign.

The Ladies perhaps could have had two opportunities to strengthen their advantage from the penalty spot, as both Lucy Bronze and Da Costa made claims, but the referee was uninterested.

Liverpool seemed to be heading towards a 1-0 triumph until an error by Libby Stout between the posts allowed Hannah Keryakoplis to dispatch a lofted equaliser on 86 minutes.

However, straight from kick-off, Natasha Dowie fed into Williams, who launched an incredible lob from the centre circle that sensationally swooped over the opposition 'keeper to snatch back control and ultimately three points.

The title race will continue for the Ladies on October 5, when they travel to Arsenal Ladies, before the season finale against Bristol Academy one week later.

Ladies team: Stout, Harris (Hodson), Schroder, Bonner, Bronze, Easton, Williams, Longhurst (Davison), Dowie, Da Costa (Zelem), Omarsdottir.