AFC Fylde Women twice came from behind to secure an impressive 2-2 draw against Liverpool Feds WFC on Thursday evening.
In their second home game within five days, the Coasters twice fell behind but fought back on both occasions to earn a valuable point after an entertaining midweek contest at Kellamergh Park.
Following a goalless first half, Paige Cole gave Liverpool Feds the lead early in the second half, before Lily Murphy levelled for Fylde on the hour mark. Shortly after, Cole scored again to restore the visitors’ advantage, only for Murphy to grab a stoppage-time equaliser and make it 2-2 right at the death.
Jack Garside’s Coasters have been showing signs of progress over recent weeks and registered another positive result on Thursday to extend their unbeaten run to three games.
Leanne Duffy’s Feds posed a tough test for the Coasters, who had to dig deep to come away with a hard-earned draw.
Fylde created the first chance of the game inside the opening two minutes when the returning Lois Moore sent a dangerous cross into the box and Ginny Lackey lashed an effort against the crossbar.
Lackey then turned provider when she centred for Murphy, who was tackled inside the area before the loose ball fell invitingly to Lauren Heria, whose first-time shot whistled inches wide of the post.
In the 27th minute, Fylde goalkeeper Liz Craven was alert to the danger of a Feds counterattack when she raced out to claim the ball and deny Cole a one-on-one opportunity.
At the other end, Emma Siddall almost found herself through on goal but was marshalled off the ball by Emma Johnson in the Feds backline.
The Feds came close just past the half-hour mark when Cole teed up Chantelle Thompson, who flashed a shot narrowly wide of the target. The scoreline remained goalless going into the interval.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde Women 0-0 Liverpool Feds WFC
The game burst into life at the start of the second half when Cole unleashed an unstoppable strike past Craven to give the visitors the lead in the 47th minute.
The Coasters were unfortunate not to find an instant leveller in the 53rd minute when a free-kick caused a scramble in the box, but the final effort went harmlessly over the crossbar.
Fylde’s attacking pressure eventually paid off when Murphy scored the equaliser on the hour mark with a composed finish past Freya Heap.
The pendulum swung back in the Feds’ favour when Cole doubled her tally to make it 2-1 in the 73rd minute. After playing a neat one-two with Beth Donoghue, Cole took aim and buried a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
With time running out, substitute Rebecca Beresford threaded a delightful pass to Murphy, who was forced off the ball just before she could get a shot away, and Heap duly claimed the loose ball.
As the game entered stoppage time, Beth Strutton made an enterprising run forward and played in Murphy, who this time made no mistake and fired past Heap to draw Fylde level in the 92nd minute. Although it was a bitter blow for the Feds to concede so late on, it was no less than the Coasters deserved for their efforts on the night.
Full-Time: AFC Fylde Women 2-2 Liverpool Feds WFC
The Coasters now switch their focus to next weekend’s visit of Derby County Women to Kellamergh Park. This home fixture against the Ewe Rams takes place on Sunday 22nd October, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
AFC Fylde Women: Craven, Binks, Hamill (79’ Devereaux), Strutton, Thomas, Siddall (85’ Bickett), Rowe, Heria (70’ Beresford), Moore (46’ Samson), Murphy, Lackey
Liverpool Feds WFC: Heap, Richardson (79’ Guy), Kinvig-Wardale, Johnson, Jukes (75’ Carrington), Parry, Anderson, Thompson, Fletcher, Cole, Donoghue (85’ Douglas)
Unused substitutes: Little, Viagas
Report by Scott Jones
