Match reportLFC Women beaten at Lewes on final day of the season
Liverpool FC Women's 2021-22 league campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat at Lewes FC Women on Sunday.
The Reds, who had already secured the FA Women’s Championship title and promotion back to the top flight, were beaten for only the second time in the division.
Having taken a first-half lead through Ashley Hodson, they were pegged back by goals from Georgia Timms and goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders in either half.
Early openings for the visitors at The Dripping Pan saw Ceri Holland’s effort from inside the box deflected away and a Missy Bo Kearns header, from Megan Campbell’s deep cross, thwarted by Saunders.
Half-chances flowed at either end of the pitch until Liverpool made one count in the 33rd minute.
Leanne Kiernan’s determination turned Lucy Parry’s knock down the line into an opportunity, the forward surging into the Lewes box and teeing up Hodson to convert from close range.
The home side wasted little time in trying to respond, however, and the Reds needed Campbell’s outstanding recovery challenge to prevent Lucy Ashworth-Clifford from getting through on goal.
But it was brief respite for Matt Beard’s team as, with a minute remaining in the half, Timms beat Charlotte Clarke – deputising for Championship Golden Glove winner Rachael Laws – to equalise.
Opportunities proved harder to come by for Liverpool following the break and Lewes completed their turnaround in unusual circumstances with 71 on the clock.
Home goalkeeper Saunders sent a free-kick from deep long up the pitch and the bounce caught out Clarke, the ball going into the net to put Lewes ahead.
Substitute Melissa Lawley drew a save from Saunders with a strike from distance soon after, and her corner was then headed narrowly wide by Kiernan as the Reds pushed for a leveller.
It was not to be on the afternoon for Liverpool, who can nevertheless now look forward to being back in the Women’s Super League when they return for 2022-23.
LFC Women: Clarke, Parry, Robe (Fahey, 46), Silcock (Matthews, 64), Campbell, Hinds, Kearns (Bailey, 46), Holland, Humphrey (Lawley, 46), Kiernan, Hodson (Stengel, 58).
Unused substitutes: Laws, Wardlaw, Furness, Daniels.