Ladies battle to Notts County draw as unbeaten run extended
Liverpool Ladies failed to make their dominance count as they were held to a goalless draw by a physical Notts County side at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes on Saturday night.
Scott Rogers kept faith with the same XI that recorded a 2-0 win over Reading Women last weekend and the manager had anticipated a highly competitive encounter against Rick Passmoor’s charges in his pre-match notes.
Liverpool Ladies dominated possession overall but a combination of a few superb saves from opposition stopper Megan Walsh and the final ball being cut out, meant they had to settle for a point.
However, it is now six games unbeaten for Rogers’ side and five clean sheets out of their last six games for Gemma Bonner and co.
It was almost the worst possible start for Liverpool Ladies in the Women’s Super League encounter when Notts County came so close to opening the scoring on five minutes.
Jess Clarke’s cross from the left flank found the head of Ellen White who beat Siobhan Chamberlain, but somehow Alex Greenwood cleared the ball off the line. It was a quite incredible clearance from the England left-back.
Then at the other end the pace of Shanice Van De Sanden caused problems down the right and she picked out Rosie White in space inside the penalty area. Unfortunately the New Zealand international took too long and her shot was charged down and cleared away.
On nine minutes a superb pass from Satara Murray sent Van De Sanden racing clear down the right flank, but with teammates in good positions waiting for a cross the final ball was over-hit and sailed away to safety.
Rogers’ charges always looked dangerous on the counter-attack, especially with Van De Sanden causing the Notts County defence all sorts of problems. On 22 minutes more superb work from the Dutch winger set up White whose driven low cross sneaked just past the post.
There was a blow for Rogers on 38 minutes when the game’s outstanding player Van De Sanden was forced off the field with an injury and 17-year-old starlet Niamh Charles joined the action in attack.
Two minutes before the break Liverpool Ladies came so close to breaking the deadlock when Laura Coombs drilled an effort inches over the bar after great approach play from Natasha Harding.
The second-half developed into a physical battle with Notts County extremely competitive and fighting hard for every ball.
On the hour mark the Reds thought they had broken the deadlock when Bonner headed home following a corner, but the goal was disallowed following a foul before the ball reached the captain.
On 66 minutes the away side had a big chance when Clarke found White inside the penalty, but the No.9 couldn’t keep her effort down as the ball sailed high over the top.
Then on 70 minutes the Reds almost made the vital breakthrough when a brilliant inviting cross from Caroline Weir found Charles who was denied by a fine save from Walsh at point-blank range.
With 10 minutes remaining Rogers’ charges went close again when Coombs let fly with another superb effort from 25-yards out that was brilliantly kept out by Walsh.
Liverpool Ladies ended the game the dominant side but try as they might, they just couldn't find a way past a well marshalled Notts County backline.
Rogers’ side are back in action on July 31 when they face a tough away trip to Arsenal.
Liverpool Ladies: Chamberlain, Greenwood, Bonner, Ingle, Murray, Longhurst (Zelem 56), Coombs, White, Weir, Harding, Van De Sanden (Charles 38). Subs not used: Gibbons, Lundh, Van Den Berg, Hodson, Green.