ROSIE WHITE charged through Manchester City's defence to put
Liverpool Ladies ahead in the 4th minute at the Academy Stadium today, scoring
the first goal City have conceded in 8 league games.
The Reds produced an excellent first half performance, with
brilliant passing and movement. Scott Rogers's side were also unlucky not to
double their lead before the break as Caroline Weir struck the crossbar and
even unluckier to then concede an equaliser in the second half as City kept
their unbeaten record intact through Jane Ross's leveller.
Rogers had named an unchanged side from the Reds last game
before the mid-season break, the only change to the match day squad seeing
Martha Harris making an appearance amongst the substitutes following injury.
Before White struck the opener City had looked threatening
in a move of their own; Satara Murray getting across to prevent Toni Duggan
from shooting.
Murray had kept Duggan quiet in the previous game and continued
her impressive run of form with another strong display against the England
forward.
Duggan would be left rueing this opportunity as almost
immediately Liverpool opened the scoring at the opposite end. Shanice Van De
Sanden instrumental and White the benefactor, beating two defenders to slide
the ball past Karen Bardsley and into the back of the net.
Liverpool then dominated the remainder of the half, Van De
Sanden fouled 40 yards out and Alex Greenwood - who netted for England during
the international break - went for goal only to see Bardsley wise to her effort
and across to stop the ball crossing the line.
Bardsley was also called into action when another smart move
involving Kate Longhurst, Laura Coombs and Tash Harding resulted in a probing cross
looking for White and Caroline Weir.
There was plenty of pressure from the Reds in and around the
City penalty area, Harding and Weir unable to capitalise on Demi Stokes's stray
pass and Van De Sanden earning a corner from which Weir's shot was deflected
out for another.
When called upon Liverpool's defence was resolutely sound,
Gemma Bonner halting a quick counter by Stokes and her partner in central
defence Sophie Ingle blocked Jennifer Beattie from nabbing an equaliser. The
Scottish midfielder had connected with Duggan's set piece yards from goal.
The majority of Liverpool's chances were coming down the
right. Murray finding the space to press forward and cutting the ball in
towards Weir, yet her perfectly weighted shot struck the crossbar.
City manager Nick Cushing made one change at half time as
Nikita Parris replaced Daphne Corboz however it was again the Reds who would
create the first chance of the half, White driving the ball to Harding in the
box.
Harding denied a goal against her old club only by a
well-timed challenge from former Red Lucy Bronze.
The home side grew into the game, invigorated by the
substitution but Liverpool continued to defend well; a Steph Houghton free kick
crashing off the wall and the Reds clearing the resulting free kick with ease.
Siobhan Chamberlain then produced a quartet of saves to keep
Liverpool in the game, first gathering a Parris hit struck from 20 yards, then
denying Duggan and debutant Tessel Middag - perhaps the most impressive save of
the three as the Reds no.1 could only have seen the strike late yet dived to
keep the ball out.
Jill Scott was also on target with Chamberlain palming away
her effort as the Reds came under immense pressure in the second half.
Man City equalised after winning possession deep in the
Liverpool half, the ball finding its way wide to Parris who curled a deceiving
cross towards Jane Ross who tapped home from just yards out with 25 minutes to
play.
With the score level both teams chased a winner, Weir going
on a mazy run unchallenged to try her luck from 30 yards but the hit narrowly
over the bar and Bonner heading a free kick just wide.
Into the final minutes City sent Megan Campbell on for Abbie
McManus, Campbell's throw ins an impressive part of her skill set and causing
trouble amongst the Reds defence - each one landing inside or at the edge of
the 6-yard box.
Liverpool also had a last roll of the dice with Niamh
Charles replacing Harding, the young winger with the Reds last chance of the
game and prevented from scoring the winner by Bardsley.
LIVERPOOL LADIES: Chamberlain, Murray, Bonner (C), Ingle, Greenwood, Longhurst, Coombs (Zelem), Weir, Van De Sanden (Lundh), White, Harding (Charles)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Rosie White
