YEOVIL TOWN LADIES 1

Donovan 52

LIVERPOOL WOMEN 2

Sweetman-Kirk 26 pen, 90+3

YEOVIL arguably showcased their best performance of the season but were once again undone by a cruel late goal as a Courtney Sweetman-Kirk double ensured a 2-1 win for Liverpool in the FA Women’s Super League.

A 984-strong crowd were treated to a competitive match at Dorchester Town and the atmosphere was excellent throughout.

Yeovil manager Lee Burch rotated his squad slightly following the month-long winter break.

Amber Gaylor and Emily Syme missed out due to injury and two more academy players – Megan Wood and Harriet Lambe – were called up to the first-team squad.

It was a quiet start with both sides knocking the ball around and playing good football and the Glovers first meaningful effort came after 15 minutes.

Annie Heatherson and Olivia Fergusson burst through on goal after they broke free of the Reds’ defenders.

Neither forward could latch on to the final ball, though and it was eventually cleared.

Just three minutes later, and Hannah Short’s dangerous free-kick found its way into the box but once again the final ball was missing.

Then against the run of play, the visitors took the lead.

Yana Daniels was brought down in the box by Megan Walsh and Sweetman-Kirk coolly slotted home, despite Yeovil’s number one diving the right way.

It did not deter the home side and, after the break, they really started to dominate proceedings.

On 52 minutes, the Glovers got the goal their pressure deserved – and it was quite a finish.

Heatherson’s brilliant vision allowed her to play in Emily Donovan who made no mistake in slotting home for the equaliser.

This sparked the crowd and the players and Yeovil continued to impress.

Donovan and Fergusson both went close in the dying stages of the match but it was to be Liverpool who snatched the three points.

A questionable free-kick was delivered into the box and Sweetman-Kirk’s overhead kick found itself in the back of the net.

It was heartbreaking for the home side who have now lost six matches by 2-1 scorelines so far this season.

Despite the disappointment, Burch insists he has to take the positives and will continue to fight to avoid the drop.

Yeovil travel to Bristol City on Sunday, January 27 (3pm) after the international break.

Yeovil: Walsh, Alexander, Cousins, Short, Fergusson, Horwood, Donovan, Buxton (Mason 57), Evans. Heatherson (Fischer 90), Bloomfield (Goddard 89). Subs not used: Howard, Wood, Piggott, Lambe