Another Saturday evening fixture offered up the opportunity to do my 2nd women's footballing weekender of the WSL season this time in the Continental Cup. An overnight stop in Manchester the venue for this evenings match the Select Security Stadium in Widnes, heading along the M62 (admittedly not the way the sat nav wanted to go but when she said turn left I went right and after a minor detour we were back on track). Home of Liverpool Ladies their opponents this evening were Sunderland Ladies in Continental Cup Group Two.
The Continental Cup Group games had gotten under way in midweek with both teams playing their 1st fixture on Wednesday night. Liverpool Ladies has started their campaign with a 0-0 draw with Merseyside rivals Everton Ladies. Sunderland had beaten North East rivals Durham Women 3-0 to sit top of the group along side Doncaster Rovers Belles. Having won there opening 3 WSL 2 fixtures to sit top of the league (again with Doncaster on 9pts) here was an opportunity for Sunderland to take a great stride in progressing out of the group stage into the semi-finals against the WSL title holders.
For Liverpool Ladies who had started their league campaign with a win and a draw to sit at the top with 4pts along with Notts County Ladies & Chelsea Ladies really a win was needed, with only the group winners guaranteed a semi-final spot and a probably points tally of between 10-12 required after 5 games. The two teams had met earlier in the season in the Women's FA Cup, then at Sunderland, Liverpool had come away with a 2-0 win.
The Select Security Stadium is a nice venue an artificial surface, a 6:30pm kick off on a clear, warm if a little muggy evening.
Liverpool Ladies starting XI - Danielle Gibbons, Becky Easton, Gemma Bonner, Lucy Bronze, Corina Schroder, Fara Williams, Katrin Omarsdottir, Amanda Da Costa, Gemma Davison, Claudia Walker & Natasha Dowie
Sunderland Ladies starting XI - Helen Alderson, Victoria Greenwell, Stephanie Bannon, Gemma Wilson, Megan Beer, Keira Ramshaw, Kelly McDougall, Rebakah Bass, Abbie Joice, Emma Kelly & Beth Mead
It was Liverpool Ladies in their traditional red kit to get the match under way against Sunderland Ladies in their away kit of yellow shirts, navy shorts and socks. Seated amongst the Liverpool fans they were in fine voice with a great array of songs making sure that no one in their team was left out.
It was Liverpool with the 1st effort, Amanda Da Costa with a long range shot central 20 odd yards out the attempt is pulled wide across the goal and behind. Gemma Davison then recieves the ball on the right bursts with it to the byline screws it back towards the edge of the box to finds team mate Katrin Omarsdottir whose shot is blocked from the edge of the box.
Liverpool take an early lead through Gemma Davison. The home side are looking to shoot at the 1st opportunity in the opening minutes, The winger receives the ball centrally takes a stride and unleashes a shot burying the ball at the near post 1-0.
Sunderland playing a 4-1-4-1 formation are struggling to cope with Liverpool's pace and movement with Davison and Corina Schroder looking to pull wide. The possession Sunderland does have is around the Liverpool penalty area are restricted to two long range efforts that both go over the crossbar.
Natasha Dowie recieves the ball at her feet just inside the box turns sharply to beat her marker and strikes the ball towards goal. Sunderland goalkeeper Helen Alderson produces a brilliant save low at her near post to send the ball behind for a corner. The resulting corner kick coming in is cleared off the line before being scrambled away.
The scoreline is doubled then as Davison with another powerful drive to the byline puts the ball viciously across the six yard line goes through everyone to be met by Corina Schroder arriving at the far post to sent it home 2-0.
As with most 'lone' strikers in the WSL, they rarely stay up top waiting for the ball but look to come in field to receive it, Natasha Dowie is no exception. The striker collects the ball from her midfield turns and runs towards goal just inside the 18 yard box to the right of goal she unleashes her shot, trying to go over Alderson the keeper does well to parry it down and wide for a corner.
The corner is delivered from the left at pace without height to the near post Dowie instinctively sticks out a foot and diverts the ball into the net to make the scoreline 3-0. It is a constant bombardment from Liverpool, the visitors are being pushed back cannot get the ball up to their attacking players.
The 3 goal lead soon becomes 4, this time as Dowie bursts into the box and shoots from the same angle as her earlier saved effort she puts more power and lift into the shot the result the ball going over Alderson before she can react smashes down off the crossbar and over the line 4-0.
Just 31 minutes have been played, it's all Liverpool. Omarsdottir puts a free kick on the edge of the D over the bar. Dowie has an opportunity to complete a 1st half hat-trick as Davison lays the ball back for her only the effort sails over the bar. Da Costa is through on goal closing down the keeper at the near post shoots but sends the efforting spinning wide. Even centre backs Lucy Bronze and Gemma Bonner have runs forwards and a shot a piece both going for corners, one of which comes in low striking the far post and coming out Sunderland clear.
Half-time Liverpool Ladies 4-0 Sunderland Ladies
A ruthless display from the WSL title holders, it has been a very tough 45 minutes for Sunderland, can they find a way back into the match or will it be a case of damage limitation? Come out 2nd half with a slight change in line up Keira Ramshaw now pushed further up with Beth Mead coming into the midfield line. Certainly the visitors are looking to press Liverpool higher up the pitch.
Gemma Bonner hauls down Beth Mead to give the visitors a free kick to the right 25 yards from goal, taken by Victoria Greenwell delivered into the box it comes out to Kelly McDougall who takes a shoot comes in hard Bonner puts her head in harms way to clear.
Bonner then almost gifts Sunderland a scoring chance playing the ball back across her goal Beth Mead almost latches onto it in the six yard box, Liverpool manage to get it away. For all their possession though Sunderland cannot find the clinical final ball.
Liverpool are a constant threat at the other end and eventually Natasha Dowie gets her hat-trick. The ball is won back in midfield, Fara Williams plays the ball forwards with both Davison and Dowie making a run, Davison leaves it comes to Dowie on her right who shoots from just inside the box the ball curling into the ball of the net at the far post 5-0.
Sunderland make the 1st change bringing on Abbey Holmes. Liverpool bring on Megan Alexander for Corina Schroder. Davison and Dowie both have efforts at goal Davison's wide 20 yards out and Dowie's from inside the box both are blazed over the bar.
Ashley Hodson and Ellie Stewart come on for Claudia Walker and Becky Easton for Liverpool, Steward going in a centre back as Lucy Bronze moves out to right back. Almost immediately she is off down the flank making a strong run gets in a cross that is headed wide.
A great ball from Sunderland's Abbey Holmes plays in Rebakah Bass out wide right, she gets the ball back across to Keira Ramshaw whose shot is deflected for a corner. The corner falls to sub Brogan McHugh who fires it into the crowded penalty area, loose for a moment Liverpool get it away.
A 6th goal comes late on, again it's Bronze with the run down the right puts in a ball across the goal line beating Alderson at the near post Omarsdottir is there to bundle the ball home despite being under challenge from Abbey Holmes 6-0.
In the closing seconds Sunderland's Rebekah Bass puts in a cross out wide left to the edge of the box Keira Ramshaw has a shot but Danielle Gibbons in the Liverpool goal is well placed to take.
The final whistle blows and Liverpool record a comprehensive victory in the Continental Cup group stage to have 4pts after 2 games played
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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