Wednesday September 17, 2008
National Division, Skelmersdale
Liverpool 1-2 Rovers

CHANTELLE Parry hit a stunning winner against her former club as Rovers Ladies recorded their third straight win.

Midfield goal machine Natalie Preston netted Rovers' opener for the fourth game running with a cool left-foot finish on 35 minutes.

Former Liverpool striker Parry, who signed for Rovers in the summer, doubled the visitors' lead 11 minutes after the break with her first goal for her new club. Collecting a Lynda Shepherd pass on the left, the England youth international dribbled the ball down the line before cutting inside and bending a fine effort into the top far-hand corner of the net.

Cheryl Foster pulled a goal back seven minutes from time, but the home side remain penned into the relegation zone after failing to force an equaliser.

Manager Adam Lakeland said: "Overall, the most important thing was the three points. After a tough start, our position is looking pretty healthy at the moment.

"A little group has already started to develop in the middle of the table, as I knew it would, so the victory has put us right in the mix, and with a game in hand.

"We've got a tough game at the weekend against Everton, where we're not expected to come away with anything, so we're full of optimism after three good wins.

"It was disappointing to concede a goal late on, as it makes us nervy and gives the opposition some hope. But for 85 minutes I thought we were absolutely superb. We defended well, had good shape and had four or five outstanding performers out on the pitch.

"If we can maintain that every week, we'll have a really good season this year."

ROVERS: Parker, Carroll, Twohig, McCoy, Byrne, Burke (Brewer 80), Shepherd, Preston, Campbell (McDougall 65), Parry (Harding 70), Anderton.

Subs not used: Brown, Norris.