Match reportBeata Olsson strikes late to earn battling point for LFC Women at West Ham

The Reds saw Gemma Bonner dismissed after just 19 minutes of the contest at Chigwell Construction Stadium with the centre-back receiving a red card.

The defender mistimed her sliding challenge on the advancing Riko Ueki and was deemed to have denied a goalscoring opportunity.

Gareth Taylor's side, however, fought back twice despite the hosts' advantage, with Mia Enderby on target for her first Barclays Women's Super League goal, ahead of Olsson's collected effort with three minutes remaining.

It had been a scrappy start to proceedings in the early exchanges before Bonner's sending off, with both teams failing to create much in the way of chances in front of goal.

Following the dismissal, however, the Hammers utilised their advantage to work several opportunities.

Ueki first saw a header saved from a Verena Hanshaw cross, while Shekiera Martinez twice volleyed wide from inside the area.

Viviane Asseyi also forced Faye Kirby into a clever save with the goalkeeper darting off her line to close down the attacker's opening after she found space on the left.

Ffion Morgan also saw a good opening blocked away after shooting low, though the hosts were finding it difficult to break down a well organised Liverpool defence.

The Reds started the second half on the front foot and could have opened the scoring themselves through substitute Hannah Silcock.

It was West Ham, though, who found the opening goal in the 57th minute of the contest.

Ueki broke free from her marker at a Asseyi corner ball, leaving the forward able to glance home a header.

The Reds, however, levelled instantly on their first attack from the restart.

Kirby gathered the kick-off and launched a ball forward, with Olsson winning a header to set Enderby through on goal.

The striker gathered and picked out the bottom corner of the net in clinical fashion to restore parity.

The game continued to ebb and flow and it was the Hammers who again went in front in minute 68.

Cornelia Kapocs had seen West Ham produce a crucial stop from her low shot after a swift attack from the Reds, ahead of West Ham breaking away to win another corner.

The set-piece again proved the Reds' undoing as the ball broke free to Morgan on the edge of the box, allowing her to drill a low effort through a number of bodies in the area and into the back of the net.

Liverpool attempted to respond once more and saw Olsson's diving header from a Ceri Holland cross fall inches wide of the mark.

The striker, though, made no mistake with her next opening to again level the fixture, pouncing on a mistake from the West Ham backline.

Olsson collected a loose ball, drove forward and picked out her spot past the goalkeeper to earn an important point for Liverpool.

Team

Liverpool: Kirby, Parry (Silcock, 24, Bernabe, 68), Clark, Bonner, Woodham (Kiernan, 76), Nagano, Maclean (Evans, 24), Kapocs, Holland, Olsson, Enderby.

Unused subs: Laws, Lundgaard, Trueman.

Next up

Liverpool next host Chelsea in the Subway Women's League Cup in their final fixture ahead of the Christmas break. Kick-off at St Helens Stadium is set for 1pm GMT on Sunday December 21.