Manchester City Ladies Football Club

Liverpool Reserves 5 - Man City Ladies Reserves 2

City travelled to Skelmersdale United to face Liverpool for the first time this season in a bid to kick start their faltering campaign and take what they have practiced in training onto the pitch

With players still missing through injury and others returning to fitness, City were able to call upon the experienced Charlotte Farrell who was continuing her fight for fitness following knee surgery, in an attempt to bolster a defence that had conceded far to many goals this season already.

Starting at a bright tempo City pressed Liverpool early and got their just reward when skipper Nicola Worthington fired in a fine 25 yard drive to the keepers right to give the sky blues a 2^nd minute lead after good work by Flanagan and Hey. City continued to push and went close a couple of times early on before Liverpool settled and the game became more even.

Unfortunately for City another defensive lapse saw a rushed clearance fall to the Liverpool striker who combined with her colleague to equalise on 15 mins. City responded and began to cause the home side problems down both flanks however an injury to midfielder Havelin meant City were down to 10 men for a period as she received treatment. During this time Liverpool scored their second as they were allowed to build a move which saw a ball played through the heart of the City defence for the No 9 to round Simpson and score  .

City then played the time type of football they are capable of for the remainder of the half and should have gone in equal had a Carrington cross been finished as it should have by the City strikers. Half time came with City confident they would continue to cause Liverpool problems offensively but also well aware they must cut out the individual errors that have led to goals against all season.

Yet again the City curse struck immediately in the second half as a misjudged jump saw the pacey winger cut inside and fire home to take Liverpool 3 -1 up on 46 mins. City dug deep and slowly began to get back into the game and scored a slightly fortuitous second as a Carrington deep cross flew over the keeper into the net on the hour.

This spurred City on and they began to assert themselves for the next 15 mins creating chances on several occasions without being able to grab an equaliser. On 70 mins a flu ridden Farrell was replaced by Hindley. A tiring City were then punished as individual errors and poor decisions saw Liverpool clinically finish on two more occasions to give them a 5 goals to 2 victory.

Reflecting on the game the City management commented, ‘’whilst putting in a lot of physical effort and playing the type of football we know we are capable of at times. The girls are well aware that as a unit we must defend much better and eradicate the basic, defensive errors we are making. At this level mistakes of that nature will be punished as was the case today. On a positive note it was pleasing to see Charlotte Farrell come through 70 mins unscathed and also the return to action of Lucy Hindley. A mention also to Hey and Worthington who worked tirelessly. We are a young team, however the girls must begin to learn from their mistakes and  allied with increased physical effort be more consistent and focussed for 90 mins and not just for periods in a game.‘’

City get the chance to put things right this Sunday when they returned to Liverpool to play in a league fixture.