An unbeaten run of 5 games starting with a 4-0 away win against Sunderland AFC Ladies back on May 18th has seen Liverpool Ladies consolidate a place in the middle of the FAWSL 1 table and place then in a great position to push on up the table challenge for a Champions League spot currently in 5th a win today could left them into 4th spot or even 3rd if they can win by 3 clear goals. 2 wins and 2 draws in the league plus a Continental Cup win over Merseyside rivals Everton Ladies in their unbeaten run to date and in that time have conceded just the one goal too.
Notts County Ladies make the long trip up to the Select Security Stadium off the back of a 2-0 away defeat at the hands of Arsenal Ladies last Sunday. Have had an indifferent start to the season unable to get a run of form going with the stop start nature of the season. In 7th place in the FAWSL 1 table with 7 points have scored just 7 goals to date, have a solid enough defence despite injuries to goalkeeper Carly Telford and defenders Chelsea Weston and Sophie Auckland-Bradley are unlikely to get caught up in the relegation battle however they need to start picking up points if their aim is to finish in the top half of the table.
It's a long drive up to the Select Security Stadium from Norfolk closing in on 4 hours and the Sat Nav likes to find a new way into Widnes whenever I come here. Did arrive nice and early up high the fans were arriving drums were being tested from both sets of fans so you knew it was going to be a boisterous atmosphere between the fans, the Liverpool fans have a song for every player. Notts County Ladies had plenty of travelling support. Was a pleasant evening warm and sunny no chance of rain. I don't like the pitch but I think I've mentioned that before.
Liverpool Ladies starting XI - Siobhan Chamberlain, Satara Murray, Alex Greenwood, Gemma Bonner (C), Sophie Ingle, Kate Longhurst, Laura Coombs, Rosie White, Shanice Van De Sanden, Natasha Harding & Caroline Weir.
subs - Danielle Gibbons, Mandy Van Den Berg, Emma Lundh, Niamh Charles, Katie Zelem, Mollie Green & Ashley Hodson.
Notts County Ladies starting XI - Megan Walsh, Danielle Buet, Amy Turner, Laura Bassett (C), Fern Whelan, Jo Potter, Leanne Crichton, Jade Moore, Rachel Williams, Jess Clarke & Ellen White.
subs - Maja Krantz, Aivi Luik, Angharad James, Aileen Whelan & Alice Hassell.
An early evening kick off it's the visitors Notts County to get thing's underway wearing their black and white vertical striped shirts, white shorts and black socks with Liverpool lined up opposite in their all red kit. The ball is put long up to Rachel Williams she is over on the right at the start heads the ball down for Ellen White playing central in attack 25 yards out takes on the early strike, across the area, Liverpool goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain can see the ball run out of play for a goal kick.
Notts County with the ball on the left at the start of the game 1st Jess Clarke looks to carry it on into the box, has Leanne Crichton up with her in support on that side the look to exchange passes, the Liverpool defence wins the ball back. Williams coming over to the left on halfway wins the ball, right back Danielle Buet has plenty of space a head of her bombs forwards, Williams picks her out with a great diagonal ball, Buet sends an early looping cross into the Liverpool box, too close to Chamberlain the keeper takes the ball as Ellen White trying to get on the end of it leaps in front of her.
5 minutes in and Notts County have kept Liverpool out of their area, a moving in quick to win the ball break up attacks, have the ball again on the left. Amy Turner gets forwards whips an inviting ball into the area across the six yard box Ellen White is coming near post doesn't get to the ball, her move looks to have deceived Chamberlain who is drawn towards her misses the ball as it sails past her, Alex Greenwood sticks out a boot attempting to clear the threat very nearly scores and own goal as the ball is deflected onto the far post before being launched clear of the area.
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| Notts County Ladies, Jade Moore holds off Liverpool Ladies, Rosie White |
Van De Sanden is now finding a little room in behind the Notts County defence on the left side as Turner looks to provide support for Clarke when they are on the attack. Puts one cross long out of play across the box. Next time she is in behind Notts County goalkeeper Megan Walsh comes rushing out of her goal to the right corner of her box, her momentum will take her out of the box not going to get there before Van De Sanden she jumps into her shot doing enough to deflect the ball off her back take it away for a corner kick. Rosie White comes to receive the corner short on the right lays it back to the taker Greenwood who stands the ball back up into the box, Liverpool captain Gemma Bonner comes to meet it near side twists her neck as she heads the ball, too much to do puts the attempt behind.
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| Notts County Ladies, Leanna Crichton with Liverpool Ladies, Laura Coombs |
A miscued goal kick from Chamberlain presents the ball to Clarke, getting her head down she looks to drive into the box, Satara Murray playing at right back comes in to close her down wins the ball and set up a counter attack the ball played into midfield sent long out to the left with Welsh International, Natasha Harding after it, sweeps an inviting cross into the Notts County area, Caroline Weir arriving in the middle of the six yard box leaps up to head the ball puts it over the crossbar.
Notts County work the ball from a throw on the right side along the face of the Liverpool area Crichton looks to strike from 20 yards out the attempt charged down sees the ball roll back to Jade Moore, 30 or more yards out, blazes her shot wide of goal. Moore once again looking to get hold of the ball knocks it back into the Liverpool area, charges forwards into the box to chase it down fouls Sophie Ingle as the Welsh International tries to shield the ball out of play.
Clarke finds herself on the right side of the attack as Notts County get the ball forwards, whips a cross into the box looking for Williams coming near side, Bonner nips in getting in front of her to push the ball safely back to Chamberlain. An even contest both sides set up in a similar fashion organised defences. Harding gets support from Greenwood on the left between them they work the cross into the box, but as Weir headers the ball forwards she is flagged off side. Weir is left on the floor fouled the filling of a Bassett and Williams sandwich the resulting free kick on the left side is played down the line Harding does well to keep the ball in play in the corner rolls the ball back to Rosie White sends the ball into the box too long for everyone.
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| Caroline Weir floored between Notts County Ladies, Laura Bassett and Rachel Williams |
Ellen White takes the ball wide to the byline before looking to turn a cross back in towards the six yard box, Ingle intercepts plays it out from the Liverpool area, Notts County are quick to close the ball down win it back play it inside to Moore 25 yards out goes for the strike keeping it down, Chamberlain does well to adjust her feet as the ball swerving in the air looks to have taken a deflection on the way though either way is safely in her gloves. Liverpool make a change with 5 minutes of the 1st half left Van De Sanden who had taken a knock earlier in the match the player off, Niamh Charles comes onto the field.
Taking the ball into the Liverpool half Buet puts in an early cross into the area, Williams in the centre of the area back to goal does well to chest the ball down and looking to hit the falling ball on the turn lashes the shot over the crossbar. Free kick for Liverpool on half way late in the game send players into the box the ball is put in Notts County captain Bassett gets her head on the ball knocks it over to the right, Buet looks to carry it out Bonner goes after her tackling wins the ball back then combining with Greenwood has a chance to shoot from 20 yards out, takes a deflection off a Notts County body on the way through ends up secure between Walsh's gloves.
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| Rachel Williams looking to play the ball forwards with Liverpool Ladies, Natasha Harding looking to close her down |
Half-time Liverpool Ladies 0-0 Notts County Ladies
A game of few clear cut chances defences on top and well organised defending deep leaving little space to get in behind, Liverpool are drawing Notts County out a little but haven't exploited the space in behind enough losing Van De Sanden hasn't helped as she was finding room attacking down the right. No one is getting any time on the ball in the middle the 2 sides cancelling each other out to a degree.
No changes at the start of the 2nd half as Liverpool kick off with Notts County having to defend into the setting sun falling low over the stands. Coombs in the centre plays the ball long out to the left with Rosie White making a run to get into the box, Buet jumping up to head the ball get's there 1st. Liverpool attack down the left with Harding looking to break clear, Buet gets back on her to lunge in take the ball from her toes, Harding let's the all run out for the corner on the left. Walsh can't get anything on the corner as it is swept in across the six yard box dropping far post his headed clear by Turner at the far post then as the defence charges out it's Turner again who gets her body in the way of a Weir strike from outside the box.
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| Fern Whelan bringing the ball forwards for Notts County Ladies |
Clarke with the ball and her feet on the right twists and turns her way inside looks to roll the ball into the box aiming near post Ingle running back intercepts and plays the ball out. 2nd change for Liverpool early in the 2nd half with Kate Longhurst coming off and Katie Zelem coming on a straight midfield switch. The stalemate continues attacks are getting broken up before they've barely begun.
Liverpool win a corner on the left side the ball is played long with Bonner moving towards the far post gets her head on the ball puts it back across goal and it ends up in the back of the net however it won't count as the referee has spotted a foul in the build up and awards Notts County the free kick. Potter is a good passer of the ball produces a fantastic ball out of the centre of midfield out to Williams providing a good run for her over on the right into the area looks to meet the ball on the half volley blasts her shot wide across the face of goal.
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| Jo Potter, going in to win the ball for Notts County Ladies |
Clarke on the left skips past Murray and powers her way forwards taking the ball on looking to break into the box, Murray recovers well and gets back to her, no way through for a shot looses the ball, Moore wins it back of Coombs, 30 yards out takes on the shot a low effort coming in Chamberlain can see it run safely past her far post. Two sides committed to closing the ball down quickly hasn't been a dirty game few fouls committed it's the 63rd minute before a card is shown, Buet the recipient for bringing down Harding on half way.
Walsh comes to gather the ball as Charles breaks beyond the Notts County defence looking to gt onto the end of a long crossfield pass from Rosie White on the left. Nip and tuck, end to end neither side on top, Clarke trying to make something happen on the left for Notts County brings the ball on before cutting back inside top of the area squares the ball into Ellen White just inside the box has time and space to shoot places the attempt high over the goal. 20 minutes left to play and I cant see a goal being scored.
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| Liverpool Ladies, Katie Zelem looking to take the ball past Notts County's Jade Moore |
Weir out left plays the cross in towards the near post Charles is making the move to get across in front of Walsh gets something on the ball, Walsh diving makes the save diverting the ball behind for the corner kick. The set piece is played up to the top of the area Murray heads the ball high into the air a spot of head tennis before the ball is lifted back into the area by Ingle bouncing safely through to Walsh.
Potter needs treatment and Notts County are down to 10 as she comes off the field a substitute is being prepared. Charles with a run in midfield plays it on for Harding on the left, her shot from outside the area is charged down by Buet. Walsh with a wayward back pass makes amends with the best save of the match moments later as Coombs ties up a shot from 30 yards out is heading for the top corner, Walsh pushes it wide to hr right and out for the corner kick.
Before the corner is taken Notts County make the change, Angharad James coming on to replace Potter. The corner goes deep again Bonner the target gets her head to the ball knocks it down towards goal, Crichton back to defend gets it clear. Liverpool are looking to press forwards a bit more as the game draws into the final 10 minutes as they look to find what would most likely be the winning goal. Notts County make an attacking change bring on Aileen Whelan in place of Ellen White.
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| Liverpool Ladies captain, Gemma Bonner brings the ball out from the back |
Whelan almost makes an immediate impact strong on the ball pushing forwards to get up towards the box has players up with her looks to lift the ball into James inside the D, cries for hand ball from Notts County as the ball is stopped an kicked away, the referee waves the protests away. Bonner carries the ball out from the back a powerful run before sending the ball forwards for Charles on the right Notts County defend concede the corner. The ball is whipped in near post Walsh ends up grounded but clears the ball as she goes over the falling Bonner, play is stopped the free kick awarded as Walsh receives treatment but is okay.
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| Up ended Megan Walsh still manages to get something on the ball |
Charles puts a reverse ball along the face of the Notts County area from the right, just evades Weir inside the D. 88 minutes on the clock a free kick to Liverpool left of the centre circle the ball is whipped up towards the face of the area by Greenwood, Zelem is there just inside the box gets her head on the ball, turns it on towards goal, off target out for the goal kick. Into injury time and Notts County make their final change Aivi Luik coming on for Williams last action of the match as the referee blows for full time and the game ends 0-0.
Could have played another 90 minutes and I doubt we would have seen a goal, two very well organised defences with the midfielders from both sides committed to breaking up play led to very few chances being created, most of the strikes at goal from distance the keepers needed to be alert but were rarely troubled. A solid performance both sides will be happy with the defensive display. Liverpool Ladies unbeaten run continues.
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