Ladies retain title in stunning fashion

Matt Beard's side kicked off in Widnes as the outsiders in a three-team battle for the championship with Chelsea Ladies and Birmingham City, requiring a win of their own and both rivals to falter against Manchester City and Notts County respectively.

Incredibly, it unfolded just that way. Natasha Dowie, Lucy Bronze and Fara Williams struck the goals to achieve the Ladies' objective before results filtered in from elsewhere - amid jubilant scenes at the Select Security Stadium - to confirm that Chelsea had lost, Birmingham had drawn and the trophy was staying on Merseyside.

Aware of the necessity for three points, the Ladies were on the front foot from the off, with Katrin Omarsdottir going closest in the opening stages as her close-range header was cleared off the goalline from Gemma Bonner's flick-on.

Williams, a goalscorer in each of the previous two league fixtures, peppered numerous shots at the Bristol goal without success, although news from other grounds provided extra motivation - with Chelsea and Birmingham both falling two goals behind.

The home side in Widnes perhaps should have been ahead on the half-hour as an incisive attack from the left channel brought opportunities for Gemma Davison and Omarsdottir again, only for visiting goalkeeper Mary Earps to thwart both attempts.

Amanda Da Costa had a brief sight of goal from 25 yards out on the right edge of the penalty area but looped her effort high over the Bristol crossbar, while Bronze directed a header unfortunately against the woodwork to leave the score goalless at the break.

Beard's side retained their momentum from the restart and grabbed a reward on 53 minutes when the breakthrough finally arrived. Davison capitalised on a defensive error to tee up Dowie, who calmly controlled and side-footed through a thicket of bodies for 1-0.

And, crucially, they followed it up. Within moments, the Ladies doubled the advantage courtesy of outstanding approach work by Bronze, who drove along the right flank and into Bristol territory and forced the ball home at the near post.

On 70 minutes, the victory was put beyond any doubt by Williams - the midfielder stepped up to take responsibility from the penalty spot after Dowie had been fouled by Bristol captain Jemma Rose and coolly slammed into the bottom corner for a cushioning third.

No more goals were required as attention switched to other scorelines and, following a tense few moments once their own game had ended, it was confirmed: the Ladies were top of the table on goal difference and they could celebrate for a second season running.

Liverpool Ladies: Stout, Frausing Pedersen (Easton), Schroder, Bonner, Bronze, Williams, Omarsdottir, Da Costa, Rolser (Harris), Davison (Longhurst), Dowie. Unused substitutes: Gibbons, Zelem.