Liverpool Ladies leave it late to progress

Oct 16 2007 by Paul Garrity, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL Ladies left it late to progress to the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup with a 3-2 win over Colchester United on Sunday.

David Bradley’s team surprised everyone last week with their excellent 2-0 victory over Leeds to secure a tie with Colchester.

And they travelled south knowing they wouldn’t get a better chance of progressing to the last eight against lower league opposition.

They made hard work of it and found themselves trailing on the half hour.

But Jade Thomas levelled five minutes after the restart.

The tie looked to have been wrapped up five minutes before full time as Chantelle Parry netted, only for that to be pegged back with the last kick.

So to extra-time, and despite the better fitness levels, Liverpool struggled.

The breakthrough arrived when Jill Hart sealed the win at the death.

“We weren’t at the races in the first half,” said Liverpool manager Bradley. “But in extra-time our fitness levels kicked in.

“Colchester made it difficult and they were really up for the match. The victory is what we wanted, so we’ll take it.

“We have a couple of league games against Doncaster on Wednesday, and Chelsea on the Sunday. I hope we can get a few more points under our belt before the international break.”

Meanwhile, it was another one of those days for Tranmere, as they were defeated 3-0 at Manchester City.

Before the match, Shirley Waring’s side had managed to secure two straight wins, which had doubled their points tally for the season.

But it was not to be three wins in a week, as they conceded three minutes into the second half, and let two more in during the last five minutes of the game.

“It was a pretty even first half,” said Rovers manager Waring.

“But after conceding so early in the second half, we had to push for an equaliser.

“We then we got caught twice, and that happens when to push forward like that.

“It’s a disappointing score line, but they took their chances and we didn’t.”