Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.17 2021-22

FA Women’s Championship

Liverpool have opened up a lead of five points at the top of the FA Women’s
Championship following their 6-0 success away to Blackburn Rovers on
Sunday.
In one of only two matches to take place over the weekend, the chance
was on for Matt Beard’s side to extend their advantage over their rivals and
they took the lead through a Niamh Fahey header just before half time. A stunning six minute
spell shortly after the start of the second half put the match firmly in the Reds’ hands, Leanne
Kiernan hitting a quickfire hat-trick in that time to take her league goal tally into double figures
for the season. Rachel Furness then came on as a substitute to put the gloss on the scoreline for
her side as she added two more goals to help keep her team firmly in the driving seat in the
promotion race.
The only other game to go ahead in the division was at Charlton Athletic, where the
home side battled out a goalless draw with Sheffield Utd. A victory would have taken Charlton
up into third place but they were unable to break down a United side which defended stoutly to
secure an important point for themselves. Indeed, the Blades could have taken all three late on
but were denied by an outstanding save from Eartha Cumings, who tipped a Courtney
Sweetman-Kirk header from point blank range onto the bar.
The return to action was particularly welcome following the announcement before
Christmas that Coventry Utd were going into voluntary liquidation. This was confirmed on 24th
December and administrators said that the club would be liquidated on 4th January, however
this was avoided due to local businessman Lewis Taylor stepping in with a funding plan to save
the club, with a deal being finalised.
However the club being placed in voluntary liquidation means that they have triggered a
ten point deduction which, in the rules, states that this will be applied if any club suffers an
“insolvency event”.
The FA issued the following statement on the matter:
“The Football Association can confirm that a 10-point deduction has been imposed on
Coventry United Ladies FC pursuant to Rule 19.2.2 of The FA Women's Super League and The
FA Women's Championship Competition Rules. The points deduction has been applied
immediately in accordance with Competition Rule 19.2.4.
“The automatic points deduction may be appealed by Coventry United Ladies FC in
accordance with Competition Rule 19.2.9.”
The club is considering an appeal but no confirmation was made at the time of going to
print.
In the meantime, a crowdfunding Blackburn Rovers 0
campaign from Michael Mogan MBE, whose two Liverpool 6 (Fahey 29, Kiernan 52,55,58,
daughters play for the club’s Under-10 side, set up Furness 68,90)
to support their employees reached its £10,000 -
target and closed over the weekend after raising a Charlton Athletic 0
total of £15,300. Sheffield Utd 0
CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
LIVERPOOL 11 8 2 1 22 5 26 17
DURHAM WFC 11 7 0 4 16 11 21 5 LEADING SCORERS
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 10 6 1 3 12 9 19 Leanne KIERNAN Liverpool 10
3
CRYSTAL PALACE 10 5 3 2 20 16 18 Abi HARRISON Bristol City 6
4
8
BRISTOL CITY 10 5 2 3 20 12 17 Lucy WATSON Sheffield Utd 5
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 11 5 2 4 15 11 17 Millie FARROW Crystal Palace 4
4
LEWES 10 5 1 4 15 12 16 Rio HARDY Coventry Utd 4
3
-3
SHEFFIELD UTD 11 3 3 5 11 14 12 Beth HEPPLE Durham Women 4
SUNDERLAND 10 3 3 4 9 12 12 -3
BLACKBURN ROVERS 12 3 1 8 11 24 10 -13
WATFORD 11 1 3 7 11 25 6 -14
COVENTRY UTD * 11 1 3 7 11 23 -4 -12
Issue no. 17 - 13 January 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk