Feds forced to settle for a point by Rugby Borough, despite a solid performance.

Despite a good performance for Liverpool Feds, the first game of the year against Rugby Borough finished goalless at Jericho Lane.

The hosts started off strong and the first effort on goal fell to Anderson after Willis competed well from a long clearance. She attempted a lob from distance, but it didn’t trouble the Rugby keeper.

Shortly afterwards, Borough had two chances of scoring the opener of the encounter. Angelina Nixon was fouled by Thompson on the edge of the area and the Feds player went into the book after a second foul in quick succession. Yasmin Mosby took the set-piece herself, and her effort went straight into Norney’s hands.

Mosby then delivered a dangerous cross, however Mai Moncaster was inches away from connecting, leaving the score level after 20 minutes of play.

The home side kept looking for the opener and they almost came close as Jukes, after robbing Borough of possession near the corner flag, delivered an inviting ball into the box, but no Feds player was able to meet the cross.

In the closing stage of the first half Feds broke quickly from a Rugby free kick. Anderson was found out wide before delivering to Francis who couldn’t adjust her body for the strike. Not long after, Thompson won possession and played a through ball around the corner to Francis who stroked across goal finishing inches past the post.

After the goalless first half, with the Feds in their quest for taking the lead, the home outfit started the half better putting Borough under pressure with Thompson trying from the edge of the area. However, her attempt finished just over.

As in the first 45 minutes of the clash, the two teams kept cancelling each other out with the first proper chance for Borough coming in the final third almost capitalising on a turnover. Rugby worked a free-kick well and Mosby had another effort saved from the Feds keeper, keeping the game level.

The Feds responded to that with two chances, first with Francis driving forward and calling the Rugby keeper to a strong save to deny her, with the clearance falling to Parry who took aim, but the shot stopper was back set, denying again the hosts the opening goal.

Both teams did not give up on the lead and Borough called to a brilliant reaction from Norney to claim a deflected goal bound cross. Following, Cole drove down the right before cutting back with the ball finding Parry whose attempt finished wide.

The final score didn’t reflect the performance produced by the home side, that just wasn’t clinical this time round. Feds will be up against West Bromwich Albion in their next league fixture on Sunday the 26th.

 

Norney, Jukes, Kinvig-Wardale, Johnson, Smith (Francis ’22), Thompson (c), Parry, Fletcher, Anderson ( Donoghue ’85), Deering ( Boydell ’56), Willis ( Cole ’75)

 

Doran, Donoghue, Cole, Francis, Boydell

 

Match Report by Margherita Scarcella