Zelem nets a double but Ladies lose at County
It was a frustrating day at the office for Liverpool Ladies as they lost 3-2 away to Notts County in the Women’s Super League on Monday afternoon.
Trailing 3-0, Scott Rogers’ side nearly produced an Istanbul style comeback when two late goals from Katie Zelem gave them hope, but it proved to be too little too late. They will also be frustrated at missing a penalty when the score was only 2-0.
A minutes’s applause was staged before kick-off at Meadow Lane in honour of the Hillsborough families following the landmark determinations delivered by the jury at the Hillsborough inquests last Tuesday.
Liverpool Ladies made a bright start and were so unlucky not to score. In the opening minutes a Laura Coombs cross fell to Rosie White who sent a volley just over the bar.
Dutch winger Shanice Van De Sanden then came close with an effort inches wide after good build-up play involving Maz Pacheco and Zelem.
However, the home side took the lead after just 12 minutes when Rachel Yankey squared the ball to Ellen White who made no mistake from close range.
It soon became 2-0 when Jess Clarke found space to curl home beyond the reach of Siobhan Chamberlain.
Rogers’ charges received a lifeline on 55 minutes when Van De Sanden was upended and the Reds were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately Caroline Weir couldn’t keep her nerve as she sent the spot-kick over the bar.
It would prove to be a pivotal moment and things got worse for the Ladies just before the hour mark when White notched her second goal of the game to make it 3-0.
To their credit, Liverpool Ladies refused to give up and showed terrific character.
Zelem pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after substitute Emma Lundh was brought down, and the midfielder netted again to set up a frantic last nine minutes, with a great finish from a Kate Longhurst pass.
Zelem then had a late chance with a header well saved as she came desperately close to claiming a hat-trick.
Liverpool Ladies: Chamberlain, Harding, Bonner, Van Den Berg, Pacheco (Greenwood), Ingle, Coombs, Zelem, Van De Sanden, Weir (Longhurst), White (Lundh). Subs not used: Gibbons, Murray, Hodson.