Has been a month since the new season of FAWSL football began and for both sides this is just their 2nd league game, with their being an international break and the semi-finals of the FA Women's Cup in between. Liverpool Ladies have played a friendly fixture beating Sheffield FC Ladies last Sunday whilst Sunderland AFC Ladies had a weekend to forget losing 7-0 at Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women's Cup.
A new chapter for Liverpool Ladies this season the 2 times title winners finishing down in 7th place last season have seen alot of changes. Matt Beard has left as manager to take up a new role in the USA with Boston Breakers. His former assistant stepping up into the role as first team manager. Has had to over see a large player turn around, looked ominous at the start of the close season as the club saw a host of first team favourites move in to new challenges, goalkeeper Libby Stout joining Beard at Boston Breakers. Corina Schroeder, Natasha Dowie, Becky Easton, Katrin Omarsdottir, Fara Williams and Assiat Oshoala amongst those leaving.
A complete turn around in what has become a traumatic FAWSL transfer window for fans in recent seasons in the women's game as the club recruited just a heavily. Siobhan Chamberlain coming in to replace Stout. Welsh International, Sophie Ingle who had excelled at Bristol as captain joined along with Scottish International Caroline Weir. Laura Coombs joins on a season long loan from Chelsea. Alex Greenwood comes to Liverpool Ladies after a season with Notts County Ladies. Dutch stars Shanice Van De Sandon and defender Mandy Van Den Berg along with Swedish striker Emma Lundh have also been signed with another Welsh International and fans favourite Natasha Harding coming in after spending last season with Manchester City Women. A lot of new faces to get used to a short season (well in terms of games, not months) to do it in. Started with a win at home beating Birmingham City Ladies 1-0 Van Den Sandon scoring on her debut.
Covered the in's and out's at Sunderland Ladies in the match report from their opening FAWSL match back in March where they started their league campaign with a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Reading FC Women. Travelled to Borehamwood last Sunday to play Arsenal Ladies who led at the break but were a player down after Emma Mitchell was sent off, Arsenal went on to score again before Sunderland too were reduced to 10 Abby Holmes red carded. Arsenal took full control hitting Sunderland for 7 winning 7-0. Changes in the starting line up by manager Charlton Fairweather for today's match, Hilde Gunn Olsen replacing Rachael Laws in goal, Stephanie Roche and Hayley Sharp also come in.
For various reasons I didn't manage to get up to see a game at the Select Security Stadium last season, is the home of both Liverpool and Everton Ladies. Also the Widnes Vikings Rugby League team a large stadium with top class facilities. Not a fan of the playing surface but then there aren't many artificial surfaces I do like when I watch so many games on grass and despair at the lack of life the surface has in it. Finally though it looks as though the summer league maybe getting the weather it deserves was a bright and sunny evening for a 5:30pm kick off.
Liverpool Ladies starting XI - Siobhan Chamberlain, Martha Harris, Natasha Harding, Mandy Van Den Berg, Gemma Bonner C), Sophie Ingle, Kate Longhurst, Laura Coombs, Caroline Weir, Shanice Van De Sanden & Emma Lundh.
subs - Danielle Gibbons, Rosie White, Niamh Charles, Katie Zelem, Mollie Green, Mayumi Pacheco & Ashley Hodson.
Sunderland AFC Ladies starting XI - Hilde Gunn Olsen, Kylla Sjoman, Megan Beer, Stephanie Bannon (C), Hayley Sharp, Rachel Furness, Lucy Staniforth, Brooke Chaplin, Krystle Johnston, Stephanie Roche & Beth Mead.
subs - Rachael Laws, Keira Ramshaw, Kelly McDougall, Abbey Joice, Danielle Brown & Madeleine Hill.
Late change for Sunderland with Megan Beer replacing Victoria Williams in the starting line-up. Satara Murray and new signing Alex Greenwood were out for Liverpool which saw Natasha Harding at left back. It's Sunderland to kick off the match wearing their very bright all green away kit against Liverpool lined up opposite in their traditional red kit. Liverpool get hold of the ball quickly and spreading play up the left Harding forwards into Caroline Weir who tries tries to carry it inside towards the box squeezes the ball through the Sunderland defence runs through to the glove of goalkeeper Hilde Gunn Olsen.
Both sides are happy to try and spread the play across the pitch early on, Sunderland attack the ball with Krystle Johnston on the right comes all the way over to Stephanie Roche wide left inside the final third puts the ball into Mead edge of the area but she is closely marked by Liverpool captain Gemma Bonner. Mead gets herself up against Mandy Van Den Berg this time around as Roche plays the ball into the area, Van Den Berg ahead of her is Siobhan Chamberlain for the back pass the gap between them closing doesn't risk it plays a risky ball across the six yard box in front of goal, Harding is there and get's the ball away before Brooke Chaplin can react the counter attack is on the ball coming quickly up to Laura Coombs edge of the Sunderland area her shot is blocked.
Bringing the ball on into the Liverpool half, Chaplin produces a got long range pass to pick out Johnston free on the right side pulls the trigger 20 yards out fires the ball straight into the gloves of Chamberlain across covering that side of her goal. Hayley Sharp does well in defence for Sunderland cutting out a ball from the left side the target Shanice Van De Sandon outside the box. Free kick for Sunderland as Roche is fouled on the left half way inside the Liverpool half Lucy Staniforth over the ball flights it into the crowd gathered along the face of the area, Bonner rises highest and heads clear.
Fantastic save from Chamberlain from a Mead shot as Sunderland fire the ball up to her 25 yards out has shaken off her marker meeting the ball on the volley gets great contact with the ball on target threatening to go in under the crossbar, Chamberlain tips it up and over the cross bar for a corner kick. The corner played in from the right is a good one central into the six yard is met by Rachel Furness who drills her header wide.
Martha Harris is playing right back for Liverpool up against Roche with mead often drawn to this side too she is doing well defensively and bringing the ball forwards linking up with Emma Lundh and Coombs right side her 1st cross is charged down, gets the ball back puts this cross out of play. Bringing the ball out from the back Bonner goes long drops for Lundh then comes to Weir 20 yards out left side of the D, shoots slicing the ball wide of goal.
GOAL! 17 minutes on the clock and Liverpool take the lead a long range pass that picks out Van De Sandon making a superb run into the area from the left in behind the Sunderland defence goes to shoot across Gunn Olsen beating the keeper the shot smashes against the far post rebounding out straight into the path of the Weir closing in and she hits the ball into the back of the net 1-0.
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| Caroline Weir scorer of Liverpool Ladies opening goal on the ball |
A chance straight away from the restart for Sunderland to level things up as Mead on the ball powers her way forwards refusing to be knocked off the all left of the area, sees Johnston free in space to the right gets the ball the 1st time strike is on, caught in two minds the hesitation gives Liverpool a chance to get bodies back and when the shot does eventually come inside the box it his charged down. Staniforth down the left channel for Mead to chase getting it on the byline, has support from full back Kylla Sjoman giving her the ball her cross is long to the far post no one to meet it. Harding bringing the ball on looks to pick out Lundh making a run to get into the area right side, Sunderland captain Stephanie Bannon puts the ball out for a corner kick. Cleared at the near post the ball is collected by Kate Longhurst who looks to play it back into the the area Gunn Olsen collects.
GOAL! 6 minutes after going ahead Liverpool double their lead, again it's Van De Sandon a constant threat on the right who does the damage as the ball is sent up by Weir into the Sunderland area Gunn Olsen coming out to that side of her area goes down in front of Van De Sandon gets her gloves on the ball but spills it Van De Sandon has it beyond her goes to shot near post even as a trio of Sunderland players try to get back in amongst them is Coombs and even as they attempt to clear their lines Coombs gets something on the ball and it is put over the line 2-0.
Two goals conceded quickly has rattled Sunderland an inquest taking place on the pitch, Liverpool have capitalised on a good spell of play and are looking to go forwards again Harris long into Coombs right side puts the cross into the box Megan Beer gets it away. Again Liverpool make the mistake of giving mead time and space on the ball 25 yards out not afraid to shoot swerving and dipping late on the shot goes wide of Chamberlain's goal.
GOAL! Sunderland get themselves back into the match pulling a goal back just after the half hour mark out of nothing. A free kick wide left Sjoman delivers it into the area, Chaplin is the furthest Sunderland player forwards, Van Den Berg looks to have it under control heading the ball knocks it up into the air dropping at the edge of the six yard box it's Chaplin who reacts heading the dropping ball down into the ground it rolls across the flat footed Liverpool defence and finds the back of the net 2-1.
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| Sunderland's Kylla Sjoman |
A great tackle by Bonner on Chaplin as Sunderland threaten to break clear. Chaplin and Mead try to combine in the left corner Mead going after and holding up the ball rolls it up the line to Chaplin, who looks to pick out Mead again play is stopped as Mead is caught offside. Late into injury time 1st half and Lundh heads on a Chamberlain kick out to Van De Sandon on the right her cross is long to the far post Weir running in can't get to it as it runs out of play.
Half-time Liverpool Ladies 2-1 Sunderland AFC Ladies
A good 1st half both sides looking to use the whole pitch, Liverpool looked in good shape going 2-0 up had Sunderland on the ropes briefly but conceded a soft goal to get the away side back back into the game. Liverpool to kick off the 2nd half. An early corner kick for Sunderland as Mead plays the ball across the area for Chaplin on the right side closing down Chamberlain the keeper slices her kick behind for the corner. The delivery is played out to the far post area inside the six yard box Sharp and Bonner go up together, the Sunderland defender heading the ball against Bonner's shoulder it drops to the ground and is pounced up by Chamberlain.
Sunderland have started the 2nd half well pushing forwards the ball from Staniforth picks out Johnston on the right side puts a fantastic cross into the area running along the six yard line Chaplin is there, so too Bonner the Liverpool captain putting in a quality tackle to win and retain possession of the ball, trapping it then Van De Berg launches it clear. Longhurst coming inside from the from the left plays the ball long into the box for Van De Sandon can't quite take the ball into her stride, nevertheless wins her side a corner kick. Send in low the ball squeezes through the bodies gathered near post, Sunderland get it out comes to Longhurst outside the box blazes her shot high.
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| Sunderland's Beth Mead being closely marked by Liverpool's Mandy Van Den Berg |
Change for Liverpool with Katie Zelem joining the action with Coombs the player coming off. Liverpool have the ball wide right Van De Sandon putting the cross in close to goal goes over Gunn Olsen, has Brown behind her the defender heading the ball away from danger. A corner to Liverpool on the left taken short by Zelem to Harding up the line she returns the ball to Zelem moving towards the Sunderland area goes to shot plants the ball wide into the side netting.
GOAL! 15 minutes into the 2nd half and Sunderland pull the scores level. Play is switched out to the right from midfield into Johnston who plays in another great cross into the area far post area Bonner and Mead going up for it Mead ends up on the floor, the ball runs through to Roche who goes for the shot back across goal is cleared off the line by Van Den Berg, but rolls straight out to Chaplin charging into the area and hitting it hard buries it into the goal 2-2.
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| 2 goals for Sunderland's Brooke Chaplin |
Corner for Liverpool, Zelem plays the ball high into the six yard box, Bannon is under it and firmly headers clear. Play is up the other end rapidly Staniforth onto Johnston right the cross sent long again Harris heading it away before Roche can get interested this time. Niamh Charles comes on for Liverpool to make her debut with Lundh the player coming off whilst Longhurst receives treatment. Strong defending from Van Den Berg up against Mead as the pair run into the area gets the ball back to Chamberlain for her to kick clear.
Sharp is having a very good game for Sunderland in the heart of their defence gets her head on the ball as Longhurst spreads play out to the right Van De Sandon heading the ball into the middle of the area, Sharp to it 1st. 2nd change for Sunderland Keira Ramshaw coming on for for Johnston who has just received a knock and hobbles off the pitch. Chaplin gets the ball from Roche on the left coming inside 20 yards out shoots puts the ball wide across the Liverpool area.
Shouts for a penalty, as Chaplin is up ended in the box. The move starting with right back Brown charging forwards for Sunderland on the ball, has done so a couple of times already, a penetrating run this time as she comes inside reaching the edge of the area Chaplin makes the run for her across and down the right of the area pointing to where the ball needs to go, Brown does just that, Van Den Berg coming across lunges in looks to take both player and ball looked a good shout but the referee's alot closer than me and it's his decision that counts not mine, a corner is given.
Charles brings the ball on up the left channel towards the Sunderland box as Weir on her inside into the area attempts to play the ball on Sharp gets between them both and wins the ball back 10 minutes left of normal time. Liverpool are looking to apply some late pressure Zelem on the ball slides Van De Sandon through left of the area this time, Gunn Olsen comes along way again and going down trying to grab the ball at Van De Sandon's feet the Liverpool attacker gets the ball past her is wide of goal getting hold of the ball close to the byline players have gotten back for Sunderland and Bannon closest clears the ball as it comes in.
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| Liverpool's Emma Lundh trying to find a way through the Sunderland defence |
Weir shoots over from close range inside the six yard box left side in front of goal as Sunderland struggle to get the ball away from a cross swept in from the right pinging around drops to Weir who connects but lifts the ball to high, taking a nick off a Sunderland player the corner is given. Gunn Olsen comes amongst bodies at her near post to punch the ball, goes down hurt but the ball hasn't travelled far gets back on her goal line as Liverpool try to fire the shot in blocked it eventually runs out for a goal kick. Harris puts a shot high from a Weir knock down inside the box as Van De Sandon puts the cross in from the right. Bannon gets a ball in her face from another Liverpool cross on the left the corner given away as a result sees the ball sent long by Zelem to the far post Bonner going up for it can't quite get her head on it.
The ball is launched up towards Mead who going up heads it high on into the area, Chamberlain does very well keeping her eye on it leaping to make a good catch under challenge from Chaplin. Into added time Mead is fouled by Bonner inside the D giving Sunderland a free kick in a dangerous area. Three players interested Furness and Staniforth give way to Chaplin who goes for goal plays the shot wide of the of the far post.
Full time and the points are shared with Sunderland AFC Ladies coming back from 2-0 to draw 2-2. A good contest they will certainly be pleased with the comeback especially after looking a bit shell shocked at going 2-0 down. Opposite for Liverpool who went 2-0 and lost the lead, no doubt Chaplin's 1st goal for Sunderland to pull it back to 2-1 restored their confidence and belief.
Wishing Sunderland's Kylla Sjoman a speedy recovery fingers crossed the injury isn't too serious.
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