Ladies suffer City frustration in Women's FA Cup
There was disappointment for new Liverpool Ladies manager Scott Rogers in his first game in charge as his side were knocked out of the Women's FA Cup following a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in the fifth-round clash on Saturday night.
A goal in each half did the damage and although the Reds gave a good account of themselves and kept battling right until the end, City were worthy winners.
Going into the tie at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes, Rogers named seven debutants in his XI - including goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain, England left-back Alex Greenwood, Dutch captain Mandy Van Den Berg at the back, the pairing of Sophie Ingle and Laura Coombs in midfield, and Caroline Weir and Natasha Harding in attack.
Captain Gemma Bonner led the side after recovering from an injury that saw her miss the final games of the 2015 campaign, while City fielded new signing and Swedish international Kosovare Asllani alongside England star Toni Duggan in attack.
There was a blow for the away side inside the opening 10 minutes when Isobel Christiansen limped off the field following treatment and had to be replaced by Georgia Stanway.
Two minutes later came the first chance of the game when Duggan let fly from 22 yards out, but new Reds stopper Chamberlain made a good save.
Straight up the other end of the field Liverpool were unfortunate not to get a penalty when Rosie White appeared to be held back by Abbie McManus, but the referee turned away a strong appeal.
Chamberlain then showed just why Rogers was desperate to bring her in as his No.1 this season with a truly magnificent save, when she somehow showed brilliant reflexes to keep out a close-range header from Jane Ross.
Superb defending by Bonner in her own penalty area denied a certain goal when ex-Red Lucy Bronze surged forward down the right and produced an inviting cross, but the No.5 managed to make a vital clearance to stop Ross from a simple tap-in.
Duggan then drilled a low shot just wide as City threatened the opening goal, and that did arrive on 29 minutes with a superb strike. Substitute Stanway let fly from 25 yards out and the effort sailed past Chamberlain and into the net.
Rogers made an attacking change at the break when he brought on new No.9 Emma Lundh for her debut in place of White.
The introduction of the Swedish international certainly saw the Reds carry a new threat and she quickly endeared herself to the supporters with some silky skills and a great ability to bring teammates into play.
Lundh then very nearly grabbed the equaliser when she fired a close-range effort against the outside of the post, after Katie Zelem had flicked on a Martha Harris long throw.
Rogers introduced another new signing on the hour mark when Dutch winger Shanice Van De Sanden came on for Weir.
However, it became 2-0 to City on 63 minutes when substitute Nikita Parris, with almost her first touch after entering the field, netted with a superb header following Duggan’s corner.
Lundh was then unfortunate not to open her account when she hit a great effort on the turn but her shot was bravely blocked by Bronze, and the No.9 drilled another effort just wide.
On this evidence it is clear Lundh will get plenty of goals this season and she could prove to be an inspired capture.
Despite their efforts in the second half, Rogers’ charges just couldn’t grab a goal, but the new man will have seen some encouraging signs on the evening.
Liverpool Ladies will hope for better fortunes when they host Birmingham in the opening Women’s Super League clash of 2016 on Wednesday night.
Liverpool Ladies: Chamberlain, Harris, Greenwood, Van Den Berg, Bonner, Ingle, Coombs (Longhurst 75), Zelem, White (Lundh 45), Weir (Van De Sanden 60), Harding. Subs not used: Gibbons, Hodson.