Wednesday 15 October 2014

Champions !

CHAMPIONS !!! In extraordinary circumstances Liverpool Ladies have been crowned Women's Super League Champions and retained their trophy after another excellent season lifting the trophy on goal difference on the final day of the season

At the start of a nail biting afternoon Chelsea were firm favourites to lift the title, they were in first place two points ahead of Birmingham in second who were a further point ahead of outsiders Liverpool who needed results to go there way in the other two games as well as a victory against Bristol.  Chelsea were given a further boost just before kick off when several key players were missing from their opponents Manchester City team sheet.  Birmingham were the first to stumble falling behind after only three minutes and things soon looked even better for Chelsea with Birmingham appearing out of the race as they fell 2-0 behind half way through the first half, but then it was Chelsea who slipped conceding a goal from Jill Scott with a powerful drive and when Tony Duggan grabbed a second Chelsea were now also hoping that the other results would go their way.  Birmingham then pulled a goal back and just before half time Kim Carney missed a golden chance to equalise from the spot, meanwhile Liverpool were going close hitting the crossbar but things remained even between Liverpool and Bristol.    

Shortly after half time Birmingham equalised and were forcing themselves back in with a big shout of lifting that trophy, then, ten minutes into the second half Dowie put Liverpool 1-0 up, the reds then doubled their lead with a cross shot from Bronze  and then virtually assured themselves the victory and the three points they desperately needed with a Williams penalty and the added bonus of the boost in goal difference they wanted.
That left twenty minutes for either Chelsea or Birmingham to score and take the trophy, Chelsea were given a boost as City were reduced to ten players following a sending off.  But it was former Chelsea manager and current Liverpool boss Matt Beard who was left with a huge smile on his face as both Birmingham and Chelsea failed to grab a goal, with Chelsea players left heartbroken knowing they had missed a massive opportunity.

Liverpool despite leaving it late, really late, fully deserve their title after a difficult season, they started relatively slowly slipping behind but mainly due to a number of injuries to key players.  They did however, always keep themselves in contention and as players returned to the team put together a consistent run playing a very high standard of football, culminating in a tense but enjoyable last day of the season.  It must be hard to take for Chelsea who were firm favourites to lift the trophy before the game but that's football they couldn't get across the line and Liverpool were there to grab the cup from under their noses.

People will tell me that is "only ladies football", don't bother Ive heard it before And you a wrong, it's simply not true, these footballers are incredibly skilled athletes, who have dedicated the lives to the sport and are playing at the very very top level of the game and I'm very proud of our Liverpool team who have reached the top of the tree in this country, winning leagues and trophies is what Liverpool are all about, so we'll done ladies, thank you and keep the trophies coming.

@lfclumo

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