Liverpool 0 Bristol City 0

 

📝 REPORT: LIVERPOOL WOMEN 0-0 BRISTOL CITY WOMEN

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH 2021

City Women played out an action packed 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Prenton Park, with both sides being reduced to 10 players in the second half.

Match Report Sponsor: University of the West of England

THE BACKGROUND

With both teams picking up their first victories of the season last weekend, Sunday’s fixture provided the perfect opportunity to kick on and finish the first block of fixtures on a high before the international break.

Liverpool found the back of the net of three occasions versus Watford but were pegged back by the Hornets to set up a tense finish, with the Reds winning 3-2.

Lauren Smith’s City side were looking to follow up their 2-1 win over Lewes FC Women and the Robins made three changes with Lia Cataldo, Melissa Johnson and Ffion Morgan coming into the starting XI.

WHAT HAPPENED

The opening chance of the game fell the way of the City skipper, as Aimee Palmer lashed a left-footed shot on goal which flashed over the bar.

The Robins maintained their positive start with Palmer testing Foster from a long-range free-kick, before Melissa Johnson called the Liverpool shot-stopper into action.

Fran Bentley was called into action as Leanne Kiernan raced through on goal and the ‘keeper met the forward outside the 18-yard box to clear the ball. Ava Kuyken then blocked Missy Bo-Kearn’s follow up attempt with the Bentley way off her line.

City continued to threaten as Kuyken and Palmer had efforts later on in the half but they couldn’t find the target.

Bo-Kearns let off an audacious effort on the stroke of half-time which grazed  the roof of the City net and both sides would be locked up at 0-0 heading into the sheds.

The first big chance of the second half fell the way of the hosts as Kiernan hared after Charlotte Wardlaw’s ball over the top. All that separated the forward from a certain goal was Bentley and it was the ‘keeper who would come out on top as she blocked Kiernan’s low effort.

With the clock beginning to run down Liverpool were reduced to 10 players after captain Naimh Fahey was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Palmer.

City almost made the player advantage tell when Johnson won the ball in the Liverpool box and picked out Simran Jhamat, however the second half substitute snatched at her effort and dragged the ball wide.

Liverpool pressed for a late winner and with three minutes left on the clock the Robins were down to 10.

Brooke Aspin received a yellow for a strong tackle on Ashley Hodson and from the following set-piece the young centre back was penalised for encroaching and handball, resulting in her receiving a red card.

Bentley comfortably dealt with the central free-kick and City would see out the remaining minutes to claim a valuable point on the road.

THE TEAM

Bentley, Cataldo, Aspin, Murray, Morgan, Palmer ©, Kuyken, Beever-Jones, Woolley, Harrison, Johnson

Subs: Whitehouse (GK), Layzell, Jhamat, O’Connor, Bull, Cook, Wilde, Greenslade