Mel Lawley hailed the coolness of Karen Carney after the England international ended Birmingham’s goal drought – and lifted them to their first FA WSL 1 win of the season against Liverpool.
After drawing five blanks in all of their previous league matches at Solihull Moors this season, there was tension in the air when Carney stepped up for a penalty in the seventh minute.
Birmingham 1-0 Liverpool
FA WSL 1
Autotech Stadium, Solihull
Sunday 26 July 2015
But her fellow winger was in no doubt about the outcome.
“I fully expected Karen to score and she repaid my confidence,” said Lawley. “We switched her to the left flank today with me playing on the opposite side and it proved a good move.
“We showed what we can do with our togetherness and sticking to our patterns. We got more entries into the box and that's what we have to do to get goals.
"We will concentrate on our own results and performances rather than worry about Bristol Academy."
Carney’s enterprising run resulted in full-back Martha Harris being penalised for hands to thwart Jo Potter and Carney stepped up to drive her penalty to the left of goalkeeper Libby Stout.
City’s confidence in possession and solidity at the back constantly belied their lowly league position as they had the better of the first half.
Karen Carney fires home from the spot
Lawley, a pacy threat down the right flank, set up striker Kirsty Linnett with an excellent cross only for Stout to make a fine save from her 12-yard shot in the 32nd minute.
The same pattern continued after the break with Lawley and Rosie White immediately making inroads.
Remi Allen fired over when well placed on the edge of the box after 51 minutes and Potter was desperately unfortunate with a superb 25-yard free kick that was tipped onto the bar by Stout.
Liverpool rang the changes with three second-half substitutions but the closest they came to an equaliser was a well struck shot from Ashley Hodson that flew just wide with 20 minutes left.
Line Smorsgard of Liverpool is tussled by Birmingham City's Jess Carter
"It was a frustrating game all round,” said Liverpool boss Matt Beard. “They didn't create much and neither did we.
"I made changes in the second half because I felt our ball retention wasn't good enough before the break.
"Having watched Birmingham, I realised they had been playing well and would be tough to crack. They get players behind the ball and make it difficult.
"We are struggling with injuries and, for some out there, this was perhaps a game too far.”
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Birmingham City (4-3-3) Rebecca Spencer; Alex Windell, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Jess Carter; Remi Allen, Jade Moore, Jo Potter; Mel Lawley, Kirsty Linnett, Karen Carney.
Subs not used: Meaghan Sargeant, Charlie Wellings, Cheryl Edwards, Emily Westwood, Coral Haines, Chloe Peplow
Liverpool (4-3-3): Libby Stout; Becky Easton, Gemma Bonner, Kate Longhurst (Corina Schroder 78), Martha Harris; Lucy Staniforth (Ingrid Ryland 56), Katrin Omarsdotir, Katie Zelem; Line Smorsgarred (Ashley Hodson 56), Natasha Dowie, Rosie White
Subs not used: Rachel Derbyshire, Mollie Green, Hannah Dale, Maz Pactieco
Attendance: 778
Referee: Akil Howson.
