Davison and Dowie inspire UWCL win
A late effort from goal poacher Natasha Dowie ensured that Liverpool Ladies will travel to Sweden next week with a 2-1 lead from the first leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League tie with Linkopings.
In front of a fantastic home support at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes, Matt Beard's side deservedly claimed the victory and will go into the second leg of their last 32 tie in a confident frame of mind that they can get the job done.
The visitors made a lively start to the contest, dominating possession and threatening in attacking spaces but they failed to put any real pressure on the Liverpool goal.
For all their pressure however, it was the Reds who struck first on the night when Fara Williams' corner was only half-cleared at the feet of Gemma Davison. The No.10 let fly and with the aid of a fortunate deflection she was elated as the ball hit the back of the net.
Just five minutes later Linkopings threatened again. This time a defence-splitting pass from forward Stina Blackstenius found her strike partner Kristine Minde in acres of space. However, as the latter bore down on goal, she was thwarted with a smart save from Reds stopper Libby Stout.
The American had a close shave on 24 minutes when a thunderous free-kick from Pernille Harder arrowed through the Liverpool wall, with Stout fumbling the initial shot before eventually clawing away to safety.
Sadly the Reds were finally undone on 36 minutes when another through ball cut the Liverpool defence in half, which allowed Minde to ghost past centre-backs Gemma Bonner and Nina Pedersen before tucking home to grab a crucial away goal.
Liverpool survived another scare just before the break when Harder played in Jonna Andersson who cut in from the left only to see Stout the obstacle once again in the Liverpool goal.
In the second half Linkopings started on the front foot, and just four minutes in created further havoc when a free-kick from Magdalena Ericsson on the right bounced awkwardly, only for Lucy Bronze to clear to safety.
Apart from that, there was little else to write home about in the opening exchanges with both sides taking it in turns to enjoy spells of possession without rarely threatening their opponents' goal.
One positive to come out of the remaining second period for Matt Beard was the introduction of German winger Nicole Rolser who continued her comeback from an ACL injury by replacing Martha Harris on 65 minutes.
Rolser, who scored after coming on against Arsenal just three days ago, almost repeated the trick here after her effort clipped the bar from just six yards out.
Within moments though, it was the travellers' turn to threaten again when a lovely one-two between Harder and Blackstenius resulted in the latter charging through on goal, only to be denied once again by an inspired Stout.
That save would prove to be a crucial point in the game as the Reds regained the lead with less than 20 minutes remaining. Some neat play from Davision led to Bronze cutting in from the right only to see her effort blocked. The rebound however fell to Bronze, who turned on a sixpence to find Dowie on the left of the box who stooped low to hand advantage back to the home side.
In a frenetic game, Stout was called on once again to deny Blackstenius in their own personal duel, with the No.9 bearing down on goal. Then at the other end substitute Kate Longhurst almost made it 3-1 with her first touch, only to be denied by Kathlynn Fraine.
The second leg is in Sweden on Thursday October 16 at 7pm.
Liverpool Ladies: Libby Stout, Corina Schroder, Nina Frausing Pedersen, Martha Harris (Nicole Rolser 64), Fara Williams, Gemma Bonner, Lucy Bronze, Katie Zelem (Katrin Omarsdottir 60), Amanda Da Costa, Natasha Dowie (Kate Longhurst 77), Gemma Davison. Subs unused: Danielle Gibbons, Becky Easton, Hannah Dale, Ashley Hodson.