A very young Women’s Under-19s side suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Professional Game Academy League on Wednesday afternoon.
Head Coach Sabiha Jamal named six Under-16s players in the matchday squad, with two of those in the starting XI, alongside four of the first years from the Under-19s group in from the off, but the inexperienced group were quickly punished inside the opening 25 minutes on Merseyside.
Maddy Duffey handed the home side the lead after two minutes before doubling their advantage just before the midway point of the first period. Three minutes later, Maisie Darlington-Bullock made it three, giving the Reds a healthy lead ahead of the break.
We came out in the second half with a much-improved display and more intent, but were unable to find a breakthrough and, 10 minutes from time, Lucie Smith rounded off the scoring for the hosts. The result sees Liverpool leapfrog us in the table as we drop down to fifth-place.
The hosts made a quick start on a chilly afternoon in Liverpool as, with two minutes on the clock, Duffey open the scoring as she sent a low drive home at the near post from left side of the box after a strong run down the left-hand side. Goalscorer Duffey then fired a first time effort wide after a low ball across the box before she was later denied by Rose Mylam, as Liverpool looked to build on their positive start to the contest.
However, on 21 minutes, the home side manage to double their advantage as a ricochet from a clearance saw the ball fall kindly to Duffey inside the box and she slotted home first time. Matters got worse when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Holly-Mae Elmes was penalised for a foul, but Betsi Salihi dragged her spot-kick wide of the target. However, minutes later, it eventually became three as a corner from the left was volleyed home by Darlington-Bullock in a crowded area. We looked for a response to the disappointing start, Rania Oukriss with a strong run from in her own half, guiding past two players with some nice footwork, before sending a left-footed effort narrowly over the bar.
We should have pulled a goal back minutes before the break, Holly-Mae Elmes’ ball over the top setting Oukriss through, her low strike from edge of the box was pushed away by Morgan, Jhanaie Pierre denied on the rebound from a tight angle before Nife Aramide fired wide on our third opportunity, which ultimately left us an uphill battle for the second period. Knowing our first half performance was not up to standards, we upped our tempo and showed more courage in the opening minutes after the restart, Eloise Summer-Mee’s shot from distance taking a slight deflection and into the hands of Morgan after a powerful run from inside our own half.
Substitute Cassie Shields, who was making her first appearance for the Under-19s, got down low to deny Duffey while, at the other end, Aramide drove a low effort into the side-netting. Despite a much-improved second half performance, we were unable to carve out many opportunities at goa and test Morgan in between the sticks, with Oukriss’ free-kick from the left edge of the box routine for Morgan.
The Reds then added a fourth on 80 minutes as a moment of miscommunication at the back saw Smith latched on to a loose ball inside our own half, in front of the centre, where she took it around the on-rushing Shields and slotted home into the empty net to ensure our young group suffered their first defeat in the league since early January.