Match reportLondon City Lionesses 1-1 Liverpool FC Women
Liverpool FC Women stretched their unbeaten league run to 15 games but had to settle for a 1-1 draw from their trip to third-placed London City Lionesses.
A first-half goal from striker Katie Stengel was wiped out by Brooke Nunn early in the second period and neither side were able to find the finish to take all three points.
The result saw the Reds’ lead at the top of the FA Women’s Championship cut to seven points by Bristol City with six matches remaining.
Matt Beard made three changes to his line-up from the Vitality Women’s FA Cup clash with Arsenal last weekend, with Jasmine Matthews returning from injury alongside Charlotte Wardlaw in defence and Rachel Furness starting in midfield.
Liverpool offered the first threat on a day of strong winds, Ceri Holland heading wide from a flat cross from Yana Daniels on the right.
Daniels was an early outlet for the Reds and her next, deep delivery floated dangerously close to the line a short time later but Shae Yanez gathered well.
Seconds later, it was the visiting goalkeeper impressing as Rachael Laws came out well to save from Shanade Hopcroft after a good pass put her in on goal.
A fine tackle in the middle of the field from Niamh Fahey allowed Leanne Kiernan to unleash a wind-assisted drive, though the game was mostly a midfield battle until the Reds were gifted an opening goal.
Yanez tried to play out via her centre-back and Stengel pounced to steal the ball and slot easily past the ’keeper with 27 minutes on the clock.
The goal boosted confidence and a fine team move quickly ended with Melissa Lawley firing on goal, but the effort found only the side-netting.
Ten minutes before the break, there was more evidence of Laws’ tremendous form with a superb double save to keep the lead intact. A deep cross from the left was met with a well-directed header that she clawed out of the corner, before denying Nunn from point-blank range.
The subsequent corner should have seen the Reds stretch their lead on the break, with Wardlaw leading the charge and playing in Lawley, who will have been disappointed to miss the target from a good position.
The Reds turned into the teeth of the wind in the second half and London City were level within seven minutes. A corner was never properly cleared and this time Nunn was able to push the ball over the line from close range.
Play ebbed and flowed with neither team able to create a clear-cut chance, while the Reds introduced Megan Campbell and Jade Bailey from the bench.
Daniels produced a great clearing header as the Lionesses looked for a winner and a dangerous ball in from the right by the hosts narrowly missed substitute Karin Muya.
Stengel was still working hard up front and when she charged down Yanez’s clearance, the ball was recycled for Furness to shoot narrowly wide.
A Daniels effort from distance had Yanez scrambling across her goal and the Reds went on to exert concerted pressure in the final few minutes.
Rhiannon Roberts had an attempt cleared off the line from a Taylor Hinds corner before Yanez had to be quickly off her line to deny Kiernan from a Furness pass, but it ended with a point apiece.
LFC Women: Laws, Wardlaw (Roberts, 45), Hinds, Fahey, Matthews (Campbell, 60), Daniels, Furness, Holland (Bailey, 60), Lawley (Hodson, 90), Kiernan, Stengel (Moore, 88).
Unused substitutes: Clarke, Humphrey, Silcock.