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The London City Lionesses fought until the end in a dramatic clash with top of the table Liverpool, coming away with a 1-1 draw.
Going into the game, this was always going to be one of the toughest tests for the Lionesses, with Liverpool unbeaten since losing to London City on the opening day of the season.
From the outset both teams were giving nothing away, with nothing to separate the two sides in the opening 20 minutes.
However, halfway through the first half, Liverpool was able to get their noses in front, with Katie Stengel picking the ball off Harley Bennett, and just getting the better of Shae Yanez in goal.
The Lionesses were not disheartened though and kept on the hunt for that all important equaliser.
In attack, Brooke Nunn was proving hard to contain for the Liverpool backline, as, 10 minutes after Liverpool’s opener, Jamie-Lee Napier sent in a looping cross which was met initially by Amy Rodgers but was saved and palmed back out to Nunn whose shot was well saved by the Liverpool keeper.
The second half saw London City continue in the hunt for their equaliser, and just a few minutes into the half, they got their reward.
This time, it was the turn of Shanade Hopcroft to send in a corner, which was headed well at the Liverpool keeper by Hayley Nolan- whilst the keeper was able to get a hand to it, once again, Nunn was alive to the danger, capitalising on the loose ball to poke it home.
The Lionesses now had Liverpool pegged back inside their own half, with London City keeping up the pressure on the league leaders.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, a great chance to go in front fell to Lily Agg, as she flicked the ball over the Liverpool defender, to volley the shot towards goal, but the Liverpool keeper was equal to it.
London City kept pushing, with Karin Muya getting on the end of a cross from Nunn, but was just unable to get her shot past the keeper.
At the end, Yanez continued to keep the scores level, as, in the 90th she pulled off a remarkable save, getting down low quickly to prevent Liverpool from taking three points back up north.
A hard fought 90 minutes, resulting in the points being shared at Princes Park.
Speaking after the game, manager Melissa Phillips had this to say on the match:
“We gave them a really good game,” said Phillips, “we were the better team in large spells, and certainly more dangerous than they were.
“We had an opportunity at the end with a cross with two players on the end of it, that, unfortunately, we didn't put away. I think we deserved to come away with more than the draw from today.”
Whilst the points were shared evenly, the Lionesses didn’t stop fighting for the whole 90 minutes.
“There's never a question over us being capable of a fight,” said Philips, “if you look at our last two performances where we dropped points, we’re actually the dominant team in both games.
“But we’re pleased to take four points off the league leaders, we're the only team to do that this far and ultimately it's another point on the board for us, as we keep challenging ourselves to climb the table.”
Next up for the London City Lionesses is a trip back up north, to take on Sheffield United.
“They're a very defensively resolute team, and having gone six games unbeaten, we know that goals will be difficult to come by,” said Phillips, “but I think we’ll find a way, if we continue to create chances, as we did today.
“So next weekend, we are looking forward to the test and putting in another strong performance away from home.”
For Phillips and the rest of the squad though, nothing will compare to playing at Princes Park, especially with the fans being in as strong a voice as they were on Sunday.
“Our fans did an incredible job to come and pack Princess Park,” said Phillips, “with Liverpool also bringing some travelling fans, it made for a good atmosphere for both sides, so it's great to see the women's game growing and bringing more fans into everyone’s grounds.”
London City Lionesses next home game is against Lewes on the 27th of March, click the link to get your tickets now!
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