Notts County booked their place in the Continental Cup Final with an impressive and comprehensive 2-0 win at Widnes Halton Stadium against Liverpool.
Despite the home side’s injury woes, it was they who created the game first chance when a corner by Rosie White hit the top of the crossbar from the initial kick after just two minutes.
However Notts County were quick to demonstrate their attacking ability that only narrowly lost to Manchester City last weekend and took the lead on 5 minutes when a close range Danielle Beut free kick from the left was flicked on by Laura Bassett and Ellen White reacted first reaching the ball ahead of Liverpool goalkeeper Danielle Gibson and headed home at the near post.
The momentum continued in Notts County favour as Gibbons was called upon again on 12 minutes to tip over a close-range Rachel Williams header. On 23 minutes it was 2-0 as Beut did brilliantly down the right to win the ball, sped away from her marker and launched a deep cross into the box and Ellen White was on hand again to head home at the near post.
Notts County continued to dominate the remainder of the half as first Rachel Williams, unmarked, headed over a superb Jess Clarke cross before she again went close as she looked to have headed home Alex Greenwood’s corner but for a last-ditch clearance off the line.
The second half continued in a similar fashion to the first as Rick Pasmoor’s side dominated possession and thought they had made it 3-0 on 57 minutes when White capitalised on a deflected shot, volleying it low into the bottom right-hand corner but for the offside flag to be raised. Jess Clarke continued to threaten for Notts County but could only force a pair of chances wide.
Liverpool’s best chance came on 74 minutes as they broke the Notts County offside trap but Carly Telford raced out of her goal was able to bloke Natasha Dowie’s shot from point blank range. The chance was the moment of the second half as the returning Fara Williams, who came on for the last 10 minutes, was unable to change Liverpool’s fortunes but it was a deserving win for Notts County who will now face Arsenal in the Continental Cup final at New York Stadium, Rotherham on November 1st.
