LFC WomenCeri Holland: I listened to Beardy and it paid off!
Ceri Holland was delighted to repay advice from manager Matt Beard by netting a crucial goal for Liverpool FC Women in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Reading.
Having also struck in the preceding weekend’s 3-2 Vitality Women’s FA Cup defeat at Chelsea, the Wales international was on the mark again as she celebrated her 50th appearance for the club.
After Missy Bo Kearns had provided the opening goal, Megan Campbell’s long throw was flicked on by Gemma Bonner and Holland, with a perfectly timed run, met it to score.
Beard believes the No.18 is capable of getting more goals from midfield and has recently been encouraging her to keep making such forward forays into the opposition penalty area.
Highlights: LFC Women 2-0 Reading
“Beardy has been telling me to finish my runs into the box and look at what happens when you listen to him!” Holland told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Meg’s throw is fantastic and I still don’t believe how far it goes every single time. It was superb from Gemma to flick the ball on for me and she has settled in really well since her return to the club.
“That was an important three points for us. Sunday is another massive game for us against Leicester City and we are at home again, we want to get the three points going into the international break and make it a more really comfortable cushion.”
The victory over Reading was LFC Women’s first win of 2023, with the clean sheet offering further encouragement for Beard’s squad as they tackle the second half of the campaign.
Holland added: “It was also important to keep a clean sheet and it’s important for the confidence. We were frustrated with the goals we conceded last week against Chelsea in the FA Cup, so that was fantastic.
“There was pressure on us going into this game but Beardy just said go out and enjoy it in front of our fans, who were fantastic again.
“It was a difficult January for us, but taking the Manchester United game aside, I thought we put in some good performances and we had to build on that and get this result over the line.”
Holland also detailed her admiration for new No.8 Fuka Nagano, who produced a Player of the Match display against Reading.
“Fuka has allowed me and Missy Bo to play a bit further up the pitch than we were,” she said.
“Fuka is fantastic. She is world class and seeing her in training every day, I think she has really added to our midfield.”
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