|
Post by rugbytoffee on May 11, 2019 20:00:00 GMT
Everton Ladies ended their Women’s Super League season with a 3-1 Merseyside derby defeat at Prenton Park.
Goals in the opening 31 minutes by former Toffees striker Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Niamh Charles set the Reds on the way to victory.
Abbey-Leigh Stringer reduced the arrears in the 39th minute and Everton pressed for an equaliser in the second half, but the result was decided by an Amy Rodgers goal two minutes from time.
Ahead of the meeting at the home of Tranmere Rovers, Everton manager Willie Kirk had challenged his team to complete what would have been a memorable hat-trick of wins in five months over the Blue Girls’ city rivals.
The chances of a third victory receded in the opening half hour, however, as Liverpool had the better of the early play and almost went ahead when a 17th-minute Laura Coombs volley bounced back off the crossbar.
The home side took the lead in the 26th minute, striker Sweetman-Kirk bundling the ball over the line after goalkeeper Kirstie Levell had failed to hold on to a Christie Murray free-kick.
The lead was doubled five minutes later, another Murray free-kick leading to winger Charles striking the ball home.
Everton had produced few moments of danger up to that point, but they began to have more of the play and in the 39thminute they reduced the arrears when midfielder Stringer scored from close range following a Siri Worm corner.
Liverpool might have grabbed a third goal a minute before the interval, Charles driving in a low 18-yard shot but goalkeeper Kirstie Levell making a fine diving save.
Three minutes after the break the scores were almost level when striker Simone Magill fired a 20-yard drive narrowly over the Liverpool bar.
Levell had to make another good stop in the 53rd minute, diving to keep out a goalbound Coombs effort.
Manager Kirk made a double substitution just before the hour, Elise Hughes replacing Hannah Cain and Georgia Brougham taking over from Emma Brownlie.
The changes sparked a spell of Everton pressure fed by same dangerous crosses from the right flank by winger Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.
But Reds keeper Fran Kitching was not forced into any difficult saves, and when Rodgers turned Murray’s 88th minute corner in at the far post it was game over.
|
|