Longhurst seals derby glory
Kate Longhurst ensured Liverpool Ladies regained Merseyside pride as she netted the only goal of the game to give the Reds a vital 1-0 win over Everton in the WSL on Wednesday night.
With the Reds starting the game fifth in the Women's Super League - five points behind leaders Birmingham, manager Matt Beard had called this clash a must-win for their side if they were to maintain their title defence.
In two previous meetings against the Blues this season Liverpool had lost one and drawn the other encounter, so this was sweet revenge at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes.
It was actually the Blues who were quickest off the mark and nearly took the lead inside the opening two minutes, but Libby Stout showed just what an inspired signing she has been by Matt Beard with a magnificent point blank stop to deny the dangerous Nikitta Parris at point blank range.
Longhurst struck the only goal of the game after 11 minutes. A great run down the left flank from left-back Corina Schroder saw her cross find Natasha Dowie. The No.9 expertly fed the ball to Longhurst and the No.7 made no mistake with a superb finish.
Dowie then went close to a second goal with an effort glanced just wide from a superb free-kick delivery by Fara Williams.
Everton pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the second half when Stout made an excellent claim to stop a deflected effort going in from Schroder.
Longhurst then nearly produced a second goal on the counter attack but she fired over the top after a superb break involving Dowie.
Towards the end of the contest always dangerous Gemma Davison came so close to putting the game beyond the Blues when she was denied by a brilliant stop from Rachel Brown-Finnis, then at the other end of the field Parris had a golden chance for a late equaliser but the No.9 fired wide from close range.
Make no mistake this was a massive win for Beard's charges and they now travel to Bristol on Saturday evening full of confidence.
Liverpool Ladies: Libby Stout, Lucy Bronze, Nina Pedersen, Gemma Bonner, Corina Schroder, Fara Williams, Katie Zelem (Katrin Omarsdottir), Amanda Da Costa, Gemma Davison, Kate Longhurst (Martha Harris), Natasha Dowie.
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