Blues Ladies marched into the Quarter Finals of the Womens
FA Cup following an excellent 3-1 victory against WSL Champions Liverpool on
Sunday. Goals from the midfield trio of Jade Moore, Jo Potter and Remi Allen
ensured progression for the 2012 winners, despite a Natasha Dowie header in the
first half.
Blues were without their suspended captain Karen Carney, so
Emily Westwood was brought in, with new signings Freda Ayisi and Alex Windell
starting on the bench, and Jade Moore taking the captain’s armband. The home
side began brightly, forcing a succession of early corners which Allen twice
found herself on the end of, once heading just wide and the other creating a
chance of Westwood, but her swivelled shot also missed the target. Another
Blues set piece was partially cleared by the away side straight to Chelsea
Weston, who fired a drilled shot just over the bar from outside the area, but
that led to the opening goal.
With Westwood in the team, she was deployed to prevent
Liverpool keeper Libby Stout giving the ball to playmaker Fara Williams, and in
doing so, Stout was forced to play the ball out to the left, where Blues
pressed high and won the ball back well, the ball eventually falling to striker
Kirsty Linnett, who produced a sublime flick to free the onrushing Moore. The
stand in skipper took her time to steady herself before calmly slotting a left
footed effort beyond Stout to give the hosts the lead they had thoroughly
deserved, however ten minutes later the Reds were level, Dowie finding space in
the box and heading home Corina Schroder’s left wing cross.
This goal settled the visitors down, and they began to play
with more control. On the half hour mark, disaster struck for Blues full back
Weston, following what looked an innocuous challenge, she went down clutching
her knee in obvious agony. Not one to stay down when not hurt, this was a clear
sign that serious damage had been done, and after 6-7 minutes treatment, she
was stretchered from the pitch to warm applause from all parts of the ground.
She was replaced by new signing Windell for her debut, in an unfamiliar full
back berth, but the gloom was to be lifted by a stroke of genius two minutes
later.
Westwood did well to win a free kick 25 yards from goal, and
with no Carney in the side, free kick duties were left to the left foot of
Potter, who didn’t disappoint, curling a spectacular strike into the top
corner, beyond the despairing dive of Stout to regain the lead for David
Parker’s side. New Liverpool signing Asisat Oshoala could have made it 2-2
before the break, but fired wide after dispossessing Kerys Harrop on the edge
of the box, and Blues made it to half time ahead.
The second half was a quieter affair, Oshoala, Lawley and
Westwood all failing to hit the target in the first twenty minutes of the
second period. Liverpool made three substitutions in the space of ten minutes
to try and wrestle back control of the game, Katie Zelem, Nicole Rolser and new
signing Ingrid Ryland coming on, but still the home side resisted any clear cut
chances for the two time WSL winners, allowing them plenty of possession but
staying strong when the ball came into the final third, and allowing no time
and space for Williams to dictate play. With ten minutes, the hard working
Linnett was replaced by fellow debutant Ayisi, and following chances for Bonner
and Rolser for the away side, it was Ayisi who won the match winning chance,
after being fouled in the area by Murray. It was left to Allen to take the
penalty with Carney missing, and she made no mistake by getting the third and
sealing Blues’ passage into the Quarter Finals.
A sweet day for Blues Ladies was soured slightly with the
news Weston suffered the dreaded ACL injury, which has plagued the women’s game
over the last couple of years, and it is expected that the talented full back
will miss the remainder of the season. A speedy recovery and full
rehabilitation is hoped for so she can come back stronger and better than
before. This result not only takes Blues one step closer to an FA Cup Final at
Wembley, but also lays down a marker for the upcoming WSL season, a win over
the reigning Champions is not to be played down, especially considering the
performance in the win.
The draw for the Quarter Finals was made on Monday morning,
and is as follows:
NOTTS COUNTY vs ASTON
VILLA
MANCHESTER CITY vs
BIRMINGHAM CITY
EVERTON or BRISTOL
ACADEMY vs CHARLTON ATHLETIC
ARSENAL vs CHELSEA
A tough draw for Blues, but we managed to secure a 2-1
victory in last season’s trip to Manchester, a similar outcome would be much
welcomed, and would leave Blues one game from Wembley.
BLUES: Spencer, Weston (Windell 37), Mannion, Harrop,
Carter, Moore (c), Allen, Potter, Westwood, Lawley, Linnett (Ayisi 82). SUBS
NOT USED: Baggaley, Simpkins, Wellings.
LIVERPOOL: Stout, Easton (Ryland 67), Bonner (c), Murray,
Schroder, Williams, Dale (Zelem 63), Oshoala, Longhurst, Smorsgard (Rolser 73),
Dowie. SUBS NOT USED: Gibbons, Harris.
Attendance: 401
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