Liverpool Feds came back from behind with the post denying them twice and Cook scoring on her debut against Halifax at the Young Guns FC Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Feds settled the better of the two with some controlled possession on a difficult pitch, but Halifax had the best chance of the game with a strike from 20 yards out. Shortly afterwards, a short corner routine nearly came off between Boydell and Anderson, with the second having two strikes towards goal. A quarter into the game the hosts took the lead as Sarah Essam’s looping effort landing over Doran into the far corner following a couple of set pieces.
The away side, however, didn’t wait too long and levelled after a deep corner from Boydell was met by Carrington at the back post who guided her header back across goal and in. Immediately afterwards Feds almost took the lead as another Boydell set piece was again met by Carrington who powered her header low, but her attempt hit the base of the post and was turned away to safety.
The final stage of the first half saw Feds flirting again with the lead as a Deering header following a Francis cross forced the home keeper to an acrobatic clearance at the back post to turn it away from danger, leaving it level at the break.
The away side had a stronger start to the second half almost discovering a way to goal as Anderson sent a teasing cross into the box and it was a Halifax foot that turned it towards goal, firing off the post with the keeper beaten. Boydell tried her luck from 30 yards, but it was wide of the Halifax goal.
On the other end, Doran was tested as she was called to hold a Halifax free kick well that was delivered from out wide.
Cole and Crook jogged on the field to replace Boydell and Francis. The substitutes first action saw them combine, a Crook’s delivery fell to Cole who got her strike off, but it was an easy claim for the Halifax keeper.
On her debut, Crook sealed the win for Feds. Fletcher took the ball on the run from a throw in and delivered a pinpoint whipped delivery into the centre with the opposite full back Crook powering in and heading it home.
In the final stages of the clash, an intricate play right to left found Crook out wide with her deep cross nearly catching the keeper out but she got fingertips to it to maintain the score.
After reaching the County Cup final last week, Liverpool Feds showed off their character and strength to come back from behind. They now turn their attention to the upcoming away fixture against Khalsa next Sunday afternoon.
Doran, Thompson (C), Carrington, Kinvig-Wardale, Fletcher, Parry. Anderson, Boydell (Cole 61′), Deering, Francis (Crook 61′), Donoghue (Willis 75′)
Cole, Crook, Landing, Willis
