ReactionGemma Bonner: We showed our spirit to reach Women's FA Cup fifth round
Gemma Bonner believes Liverpool FC Women’s team spirit was the key to their 1-0 victory over Bristol City Women in round four of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
Defender Bonner netted an 85th-minute winner at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon after the Reds had been reduced to 10 players on the hour mark when Ceri Holland was dismissed.
Matt Beard’s team subsequently dug in to preserve their clean sheet and Bonner’s late strike secured their spot in the draw for the fifth round, which takes place tonight.
Bonner told Liverpoolfc.com: “I think it was obviously a tough game. Bristol made it hard for us and especially going down to 10, our backs were up against the wall.
”But we knew if obviously we had Shanice [Van de Sanden]’s pace up top that we were maybe going to get chances on the counter.
“I think we could have been a lot better with the ball today but ultimately it’s a cup game, the job was to get through into the next round and it was probably going to be either a counter-attack or a set-piece and I obviously love trying to get on the end of set-pieces.
“I think it was an area we’ve worked on a lot and for me, I just managed to read the ball and put it in the back of the net.
“I was at the near post and once it’s gone over me I’m turning ready for where the drop-down is and I try to read it as best as I can. Obviously it was a bouncing ball, a lot of bodies, and I knew I just needed to make good contact and keep it low and thankfully it went in.”
Liverpool had to defend resolutely for the remainder of the tie following Bonner’s goal and she added: “I think they threw everything at us and they even brought their goalkeeper up at the end and it was backs against the wall.
“But I think the players that were on the pitch, the subs that came on, I think it shows the strength of the squad because I thought they all did fantastically well.
“It wasn’t necessarily a pretty game for them to come into but I think some of the tackles and blocking the crosses, the shots towards the end – that’s ultimately what has got us through to the next round.”
Bonner was part of the Manchester City Women squad that won the FA Cup in the 2019-20 season and she is targeting a repeat with the Reds this term.
The 32-year-old said: “Obviously the FA Cup has got huge history, especially in England, and for us in the women’s game to now have it [the final] at Wembley, it’s what everyone wants to be playing in.
“So, obviously I have experienced it and now I am back at Liverpool I would love for us to bring a successful FA Cup journey.”