After a couple of weeks of Continental Cup fixtures, this weekend saw a return to league action in the FAWSL 1 & 2 with a full programme of matches. Yesterday in WSL 2 Yeovil Town Ladies & Aston Villa Ladies shared the points with a 1-1 draw. Today saw a further 8 fixtures between the 2 divisions. My game of the day was the FAWSL 1 fixture between Notts County Ladies & Liverpool Ladies.
After 2 games played each both teams sit top of the table, Notts County Ladies on top with the superior goal difference, so todays game represented a great chance for both teams to look to extend their lead. The weather was fantastic, summer I think (although it took long enough) has finally arrived bright and sunny, another decent crowd building inside Meadow Lane the scene was set.
Notts County Ladies starting XI - Carly Telford, Amy Turner, Sophie Bradley (C), Rachel Corsie, Laura-Jane O'Neill, Sophie Walton, Katie Holtham, Desiree Scott, Dunia Susi, Jess Clarke & Aileen Whelan
Liverpool Ladies starting XI - Libby Stout, Becky Easton, Gemma Bonner (C), Lucy Bronze, Corina Schroder, Fara Williams, Katrin Omarsdottir, Amanda Da Costa, Martha Harris, Gemma Davison & Natasha Dowie
Both teams were set up to play the 4-3-3 formation as I've seen both employ so far this season. For Notts County though it was Aileen Whelan starting in the centre of the 3 up front as a pose to Jess Clarke, whose early season form has been fantastic. Liverpool's Martha Harris was given a role up top as the visitors in their red kit waited as Notts County in their purple and yellow kit got the match under way.
The opening exchanges were quiet as both teams tried to suss each other out, Liverpool conscious of any dangerous through balls Notts County would look to make. When the ball did find a way through the centre goalkeeper Libby Stout was quickly out to gather the ball before Notts County's Dunia Susi could capitalise.
In midfield for Notts County Sophie Walton does well winning possession, plays the ball through to Dunia Susi on her right she then finds Clarke coming in from the left on the edge of the box Clarke shifts the ball quickly between her feet and gets a shot away the ball though goes over the bar.
Liverpool enjoy a period of sustained possession in and around the home sides penalty box, Gemma Davison out wide right gets a good cross in but no team mate is their to take advantage as Notts County clear. Moments later Dowie recieves the ball central turns quickly attempting to hook the ball goalwards her effort lands on the roof of the net.
Liverpool win a corner the ball is played in dangerously from the left clears the near post Notts County goalkeeper Carly Telford tries to punch the ball away the attempt comes off a Liverpool body but wide.
Jess Clarke and Dunia Susi switch sides on a number of occasions, in midfield the Notts County trio of Sophie Walton, Katie Holtham and Desiree Scott are winning the ball back well and looking to feed it out to the channel Clarke in particular has two good runs with the ball, both of which Liverpool eventually deal with.
Dunia Susi has a opportunity centrally to have a run on goal however a great recovering tackle from defender Lucy Bronze stops her inside the box. Susi has another opportunity to try her luck centrally, this time Liverpool captain Gemma Bonner blocks her effort, the ball spins loose to the right of Liverpool's penalty area, Jess Clarke races onto it, pulls the trigger her shot flying towards goal, Libby Stout produces a fine save at her near post to deny her and give Notts County a corner.
From the corner delivered from the right, Rachel Corsie on the penalty spot makes contact with the ball but sends her effort high over the bar. Liverpool are struggling in defence to cope with the movement of the Notts County attacking players are being pushed back which is creating a gap in between their defenders and midfielders that Desiree Scott is making the most off looking to influence play higher up the pitch.
Liverpool do break late in the half the ball played through into the path of a good run from Amanda Da Costa she is through on goal Carly Telford though is quickly out of her box to make the clearance.
Half-time Notts County Ladies 0-0 Liverpool Ladies
The scores level at the break neither manager made any changes at half time. Liverpool get the 2nd half under way. Immediately they are looking to press Notts County further up the pitch to win the ball earlier look to creat something. Gemma Davison with team mates closer to her is able to get on the ball and have a run into the right channel, wins a corner.
The game is getting a little scrappy fouls are being given away by both sides, Liverpool give one away on the right near the half way line, Sophie Walton plays the ball into the box Susi gets her head onto it, her attempt on goal goes wide of the mark.
Walton is having a good game in midfield running the ball down and then playing it into the forward players quickly, gets it to Susi who has Clarke making an over lapping run to her right gives her the ball, Clarke shoots as Stout rushes out to close her down, the goalkeeper does enough to foil her as she falls, Clarke tries again but Stout scrambles across and smothers the ball.
Fara Williams plays in a dangerous free kick at the other end towaqrds the far post Da Costa gets her head to it, Telford though makes a good save.
Notts have the best chance of the game then, Desiree Scott manages to beat the off side trap, Gemma Bonner rushes back to deal with her manages to block the ball but can't clear it far enough, Susi arriving lartches onto it and bursts into the area has a shot from ten yards out that has Stout beaten but to Notts County's dismay rolls narrowly wide of the far post.
Liverpool change things slighty moving Becky Easton into the centre of defence and Lucy Bronze over to right back. Make a substitution bringing on Ashley Hodson for Martha Harris. Notts County take off Aileen Whelan for Emily Roberts.
Notts County win a corner, the ball coming in to the penalty box Rachel Corsie is there again her effort though a repeat of her earlier attempt the ball going over the bar. It is Notts County with the late pressure Jess Clarke almost played through from another Walton pass wins a corner. The set piece delivered by Emily Roberts is dangerous threatening to go straight in Stout does well to pluck it out of the air before it creeps under the bar.
Another change for Liverpool Da Costa comes off to be replaced by Hannah Dale. Notts County full back Laura-Jane O'Neill plays a good ball through to Susi in the closing minutes on the left she breaks into the box, shoots the effort is far too high. Injury time Notts County bring on Eleanor Clarke for Jess Clarke. The final whistle blows and the game ends 0-0.
The result sees both teams move onto 5pts at the top of the league, Notts still leading the way. Liverpool worked hard and will probably take a point away from home in these early games of the WSL season especially with several players missing. Take nothing away from Notts County however it was a battling display keeping up a high tempo their midfielders covering alot of ground they will feel this is a good point earned.
In the other games in WSL 1 today Everton Ladies & Bristol Academy drew 1-1. Manchester City Women continued from their recent good form in the Continental Cup to claim their first 3pts in the league with a 1-0 victory away to Arsenal Ladies, and Birmingham City Ladies beat Chelsea Ladies 2-1.
In WSL 2 Doncaster Rovers Belles continued their 100% win rate at the start of the season with a 2 goal victory over Watford Ladies. Keeping pace with them with another 100% sucess rate in the league are Sunderland Ladies who beat London Bees at home 1-0. Reading FC Women hosted Durham Women winning the match 4-0 and Millwall Lionesses beat Oxford United Women 2-0.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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