Ladies suffer County frustration

After last weekend's brilliant away win at Arsenal, hopes were high that Matt Beard's charges could continue their charge up the table, but Rick Passmoor's side proved to be a tough obstacle to break down as they now move five points ahead of the Reds in WSL 1.

Without the services of German star Corina Schroder, Beard handed a first start at left-back to development youngster Maz Pacheco, while new signing Rosie White made her first start for the club in attack alongside Natasha Dowie.

New Zealand star White marked her first game on home turf with a goal and looked an astute capture, but overall it was a tough day for the Ladies.

Before the game England's World Cup hero Fara Williams was presented on the pitch with her Ladies Players' Player of the Year award for her contribution to the title success last season.

There was a healthy crowd in place for the Saturday afternoon kick-off in Widnes, and it was the away side who had the first chance inside the opening two minutes when Libby Stout had to be alert to save well from Jess Clarke's curled effort.

County had started well and they took the lead on five minutes. Becky Easton was shown a yellow card for a crunching challenge in the middle of the park, and from the resulting free-kick, Clarke glanced the ball into the net.

Liverpool Ladies had made a slow start but on 21 minutes they came close to levelling the scores. Martha Harris made a great run down the right flank and her looping cross dipped just over the bar.

The Ladies were starting to show their true colours and White got Beard's charges level after 25 minutes. Kate Longhurst was played in and despite her effort being superbly saved by Siobhan Chamberlain, White made no mistake with the rebound to make it 1-1.

On 31 minutes County threatened again when a through ball found Ellen White in the clear, but Harris came to the rescue in the nick of time with a brilliant interception to clear the danger.

Dowie went close at the other end of the park with a dipping half-volley that had to be palmed over the bar by Chamberlain, and from the resulting corner the No.9 went close again with a header over the top after the goalkeeper could only half clear the ball.

Asisat Oshoala then had a golden chance to fire the Reds into the lead four minutes before the break when she raced clean through on goal, but her finish lacked precision and Chamberlain made the vital block.

Straight up the other end County had a great opportunity but Stout produced a superb save to keep out White at close range.

For the second-half Beard made a tactical switch when he strengthened the midfield as Katrin Omarsdottir replaced Satara Murray.

There was a blow for the Reds on 52 minutes when Oshoala, who picked up a knock in the first-half, went down again and had to leave the field. Ashley Hodson took her place.

Williams went close with an effort that was well held by Chamberlain, before County regained the lead on 58 minutes. Liverpool's backline was caught square as offside appeals were turned down as White set up Clarke to fire her second goal of the game.

Having used all three of his substitutes Beard had to finish the final 14 minutes of the game with 10 players when Williams limped off.

County were dangerous on the counter-attack and the heroics of Stout gave her team a fighting chance right until the end.

In stoppage time the ball fell kindly for White in the penalty area but, under pressure she could only fire straight at Chamberlain.

Overall it was a disappointing day for Liverpool Ladies but with matches against Everton and Birmingham coming up Beard's main concern will be the injury concerns over Williams, Oshoala and Murray.

Liverpool Ladies team: Stout, Harris, Easton, Bonner, Murray (Omarsdottir 45), Williams, Pacheco, Longhurst, Oshoala (Hodson 52), Dowie (Staniforth 63), White. Subs not used: Darbyshire, Smorsgard, Ryland, Dale.

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