Dubious refereeing and an awful ten minute spell after half-time saw Liverpool make a disappointing start to their WSL season, as they lost an ill-tempered clash against Bristol Academy.
Liverpool made two changes to the team that put up a brave fight against Arsenal in the Continental Cup last time out, with Nicki Harding and Chloe Jones coming in for Danielle Lea and Hannah Keryakoplis. The home side created the first chance in cold, gloomy conditions at Skelmersdale, when Katie Brusell made space for a shot at the edge of the box, but her effort was comfortably gathered by visiting goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain. After seven minutes, Bristol almost broke through against the run of play when Jess Fishlock lifted her shot over the onrushing Aroon Clansey, but narrowly wide of the far post. Moments later, Liverpool were indebted to Michelle Evans, as she cleared Natasha Harding's dangerous cross over her own bar. Bristol were coming into the game, and on twenty minutes were rewarded for their pressure in controversial circumstances. Corinne Yorston swung in a corner which found its way to Nicola Watts at the back post. She then fired in a shot which Cheryl Foster was adjudged to have handballed, despite seeming to use her hands to shield her face. Fishlock then made no mistake from the spot to put the visitors 1-0 up. The Reds almost levelled immediately though, when Evans' 20-yard free-kick deflected off the wall and seemed to wrong-foot Chamberlain. However, the England goalkeeper showed great agility to dive to her right and parry the ball away. A head injury to Sam Chappell meant a first half introduction for Keryakoplis, and she produced a marvellous dipping effort on the half hour, clearing Chamberlain's crossbar by a matter of inches. Bristol almost doubled their advantage shortly before half time, but Vicky Jones' intervention denied Watts, who was then flagged offside by the assistant referee. Half-time: Liverpool 0-1 Bristol Academy Liverpool's resistance lasted barely two minutes into the second half though, as Bristol doubled their lead. Laura del rio Garcia was denied by a good save by Clansey, but the keeper was beaten by the resulting corner from Fishlock. That was Clansey's last action of the game as Robbie Johnson brought on Nicky Davies between the sticks. Evans was again the last line of defence on 49 minutes, when she blocked Grace McCatty's shot. Again though, Liverpool were unable to deal with the corner that followed, and Watts headed Bristol into a 3-0 lead. Davies was able to tip a Garcia effort over minutes later, and this time, the Reds managed to withstand the flurry of resultant corners. Bristol weren't to be denied though, and Melissa Lawley added their fourth on 56 minutes as Liverpool heads began to drop. On the hour mark, Johnson replaced Foster with Lynda Shepherd, and the midfielder's introduction went some way to stemming the Bristol tide. Liverpool went agonisingly close to giving themselves a lifeline on 72 minutes, as Evans first curled a free-kick inches wide, then Chamberlain brilliantly denied both Brusell and Kelly Jones in a dramatic goalmouth scramble, during which Liverpool were convinced they should have had a penalty for a handball on the line. Kelly Jones then glanced an Evans corner wide, before Keryakoplis' persistance on the left flank led to an opportunity, but she couldn't find the target with her shot. Liverpool were again denied a penalty with five minutes left - referee Peter Wright waving away protests when Ruesha Littlejohn's goal-bound shot appeared to be blocked by a Bristol hand. The home side finally registered a goal with a matter of seconds left as Nicky Twohig latched onto Evans' flick-on to fire home and reduce the deficit.
The game finished in controversial circumstances, when McCatty kicked out at Brusell as she lay on the floor, resulting in a straight red for the Bristol defender.
The incident triggered unsavoury scenes on the pitch, which saw Bristol captain Yorston also receive her marching orders.
Brusell, clearly seriously hurt, then required treatment from both physios before being stretchered from the pitch.
Full-time: Liverpool 1-4 Bristol
Carly Baldwin
© The Football Association 2001-2013, All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notices | 53
