Daisy Hill’s hopes of back-to-back wins in the North West Counties League Division One North were dashed by a fine second-half comeback from Liverpool South at the Plumb Factory Stadium on Saturday.
Daisy, who led at half-time thanks to Ryan Talbot’s stunning goal, were pulled back by three goals in the space of 15 minutes in the second half, allowing the promotion-chasing visitors to finish the afternoon with the three points they needed to continue their form. He bid for a place in the play-offs.
It was a disappointing end to an afternoon that had started promisingly for the home team, and then Daisy’s first-team coach Ryan Fitzpatrick summed up his disappointment in the home camp.
“We competed well against a team that was doing well and looking for a place in the play-offs, but we were sitting in the locker room beating ourselves up,” Fitpatrick said.
“Finally, five minutes into the second half, the game took a crazy turn when Liverpool South took their chance and from then on the game changed.
“We started well and shook them up with an early goal, even waking them up a bit.
“They were a bit shaken up and there were a few tackles, a few injuries and both teams had to make substitutions at half-time.
“But if we could have scored the second goal in the first half or at the beginning of the second half, I think we could have finished the game.
“We told the men in the first half, actually we could all see what was going to happen, we told them they were going to come at us in the second half.
“The wind was in their favor in the second half, they took their chances when they had the opportunity and we need to learn from that and make sure we stay focused throughout the 90 minutes.
“After the game there was a bit of a buzz and it was a situation that told the boys that we have to learn from this and then get ready and go again for the next game.”
It was Daisy who made the first run, with midfielder Jack Iley involved in the game’s first two chances, first firing from distance and then floating in a free-kick that Dean Singleton failed to connect with at the far post.
The opening goal came in the 11th minute and it was a moment to be savored as Daisy’s top scorer Talbot turned into a defender in midfield and unleashed an absolute screamer from all 35 yards that gave South Liverpool goalkeeper Alex Fowell no chance. .
It was an outstanding goal from the tall forward and he created two more chances within a few minutes at the halfway point of the half as Daisy increased the pressure.
Daisy’s goalkeeper Morgan Newns found Talbot on the edge of the penalty area from a long clearance, but her shot was collected safely by Fowell and shortly afterwards a wicked header landed directly at Talbot’s feet, but Fowell again reacted quickly to clear the ball. held it securely. shot from the edge of the penalty area.
It took around half an hour for the visitors to create a chance to make a note when South Liverpool’s lively winger Owen Hough’s shot was well saved by Newns, but it was a rare moment of threat in a half dominated by Daisy.
Daisy finished the half on the front foot and first Henry Chalkley shot from just outside the box before Jamie Ramwell flicked a clearance from the goalkeeper who diverted the ball into Talbot’s path but it was quickly closed. and became crowded while trying to collect the loose ball.
The end of a good 45-minute match was positive, but after half-time the game turned in favor of the visiting team.
They equalized in the 49th minute when a ball into the penalty area found Mohamed Abdi in space and his shot went over the head of the wrong-footed Newns.
It got worse for Daisy four minutes later when South Liverpool took the lead, a long ball from the left released Hough and the winger advanced towards goal and slotted it past Newns.
Daisy hit back and came close to equalizing two minutes later when Blerti Jacaj’s cross found Ramwell in the box, but his close-range effort was pushed against the post by Fowell.
But midway through the half, South Liverpool struck a killer blow with a third goal when substitute Neil Weaver picked up the ball on the right wing, firing a shot wide past Newns as the Daisy defense retreated. corner.
Four minutes later Weaver was back in the action when he won a penalty after being tripped just inside the penalty area, but Hough’s spot-kick hit the post and rebounded to safety.
Deep into stoppage time Hough struck goal for a second time, this time from 25 yards with a shot that came back into play just before the final whistle.
Daisy return to action on Easter Monday when they host Atherton LR in the North West Counties League First Division North (3pm).