Johnson can see progress despite Crystal Palace losing 2-1 at Liverpool in FA Women’s Championship

BY AIDAN JONES

Liverpool returned to winning ways after a 2-1 victory at home to Crystal Palace at Prenton Park.
The game got off to a flyer with a goal inside the first two minutes.

One pass from Melissa Lawley cut open Crystal Palace’s defence and slipped through Taylor Hinds, who kept her composure to finish into the far corner.

The hosts kept a strong defence, limiting Palace’s goal attempts and almost doubled the lead after 15 minutes when Leanne Kiernan beat the goalkeeper after a cross from the byline, but the crossbar saved the visitors from going two behind.

Soon after, there was a big chance for Palace to level the score after a misplaced backpass to the goalkeeper allowed Millie Farrow to go through one-on-one but her shot was brilliantly saved by Rachael Laws.

The follow up from Molly Sharpe was also kept out by Laws with excellent reflexes.

Just after the half-hour mark, the visitors were level.

Siobhan Wilson’s cross from the corner of the area turned out to be an effort out of the very top draw which flew into the far top corner of the net.

There was almost an instant reply from Liverpool as the visitors were yet again caught out at the back as Ashley Hodson was able to slip the ball past the goalkeeper, who was wrongfooted, to restore the lead.

Liverpool brought to life a quiet second half 10 minutes from the end. Hinds almost scored her second only to be denied by superb defending from the away side, after her shot was blocked inside the area.

Palace defender Annabel Johnson said: “We are disappointed with the two goals that we have conceded, but we are happy with our performance. We passed the ball well and it is a shame we didn’t get the three points.

“We are building a process – last season we lost 4-0 away to Liverpool and this season we have been still in the game at the last minute. We have had good possession in the second half particularly, so there is good progress, we just need to turn performances into results.

“There is a good feeling in the camp, we know what we need to work on. There is great workrate from the girls – we have had a bit of a tough week with injuries and illness so I thought they all came out and worked their socks off today.

“It was a great team goal for us. It would have been nice to go in drawing at half time, but we come out in the second half and tried to take the game back to Liverpool, the resilience was good from us and we have to take credit for that.”

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