Despite 2 early goals from Jordan Nobbs the Reds fought back to a 3-3 draw LIVERPOOL manager Matt Beard praised his side’s character as substitute Gemma Davison’s late equaliser kept alive Liverpool’s slim hopes of retaining the FA Women’s Super League 1 title in a dramatic clash against Arsenal. Jordan Nobbs scored two for the Gunners but Davison’s last-gasp effort leaves the Reds three points behind leaders Chelsea with just one game to go. “The players deserve a lot of credit with the way they responded after going 1-0 down and then 3-1 down,” said Beard. “I think we created the better chances when we weren’t chasing the game. Nicola Rolser was in one-on-one, she might have scored if she had a few more games under her belt, but she showed good composure for her first finish. “We needed to make sure that we got at them and caused them problems because we didn’t do that at all until Gemma Davison came on the pitch. “It’s a positive result, Arsenal are a good side and the results haven’t gone our way today but this league has thrown up so many twist and turns this year, you never know.” Liverpool are now third after Chelsea’s 5-2 victory over Everton and Birmingham’s 2-1 win at Manchester City. And the Reds got off to the worst possible start when Nobbs got her head on the end of Alex Scott’s cross, guiding the ball past Libby Stout at the near post after just 40 seconds. Arsenal doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Nobbs smashed home her second of the game. Liverpool reduced the deficit ten minutes before the break when Fara Williams sent a free-kick flying past Emma Byrne. Shortly after half-time Arsenal’s two-goal lead was restored when Casey Stoney ghosted in at the back post to get an out-stretched leg on Rachel Yankey’s corner. But Nicole Rolser dinked the ball over the on-rushing Emma Byrne on 66 minutes to reduce Liverpool’s deficit once more. And Davison scored in the 93rd minute, making a powerful run into the box, before placing the ball to the right of the goal to seal a stunning comeback. Arsenal manager Pedro Martinez Losa said: “That was the game we were expecting, we tried to play our game and I really feel that we had the opportunity to finish the game off earlier. “But at the same time the opponent was always in the game because they have talented players. “Obviously we are not happy but the players gave everything on the pitch, they made the effort but it’s something that can happen when you play at this level.” Arsenal (4-5-1): Byrne; Scott, Stoney, Fahey, Mitchell; Ohno (Weir 75), Nobbs, Kinga (Smith 54), Williamson, Yankey (Bailey 88); Carter, Subs not used: Chamberlain, Murray, Sampson, Humphrey Bookings: Scott 87 Red cards: none. Liverpool (4-4-2): Stout; Bronze, Bonner (c), Easton, Schroder; Williams, Omarsdóttir, Da Costa (Zelem 60); Longhurst (Rolser 60), Harris, Dowie (Davison 22) Subs not used: Gibbons, Frausing-Pedersen Bookings: none. Red cards: none. Att: 808 Ref: R. Massey-Ellis To find out more about the FA visit: http://thefa.com Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FA The FA Cup on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheFACup England on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EnglandTeam FAWSL on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FAWSL

• published: 08 Oct 2014
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