by Daisy Hill’s hopes of banking back-to-back wins in the North West Counties League First Division were dashed when Liverpool South staged a fine second-half comeback at the Plumb Factory Stadium on Saturday.
Ahead at the break thanks to a brilliant goal from Ryan Talbot, Daisy failed to make it three goals in the space of 15 minutes in the second half, ensuring the promotion-chasing visitors ended the evening with all three points which they needed in their bid to secure a place in the play-offs.
It was a disappointing end to an afternoon that had started so confidently for the hosts, and afterwards Daisy first team coach Ryan Fitzpatrick summed up the frustration in the home camp.
“We competed well against a team that was doing well and looking for a place in the playoffs, but we were sitting in the dressing room beating ourselves up,” Fitpatrick said.
“In the end, the game turned into a frenzy five minutes early in the second half when Liverpool South took their chances and the game changed from there.
“We started well, and we put them up with the early goal, if anything that woke them up a bit.
“They got up a bit and there were a few tackles going in, a few injuries, and at half time both teams had to make substitutions.
“But I really feel that if we could get the second goal in the first half, or early in the second half, we could put that game to rest.
“We told the lads at half time, in fact we could all see what was going to happen, that they would be coming at us in the second half.
“The wind picked up and they were in their favor in the second half, they took their chances when they got them, and we have to learn from that and make sure we focus for the full 90 minutes.
“The heads were down a bit after the game, and it was a case of telling the lads we have to learn from this and then get ready and go again for the next game.”
It was Daisy who did all the early running, with midfielder Jack Iley involved in the first two chances of the game, first firing wide before floating in a free-kick which Dean Singleton failed to connect with at the far post.
The opening goal arrived in the 11th minute, and it was a moment to savor when top scorer Daisy Talbot turned defender in midfield, and unleashed an absolute screamer from a shot from 35 yards that gave the Liverpool keeper no chance South Alex Fowell. .
It was an excellent goal from the big man up front, and he had two more chances in as many minutes at the halfway point as Daisy piled on the pressure.
A long clearance from Daisy keeper Morgan Newns found Talbot in space on the edge of the box, but Fowell gathered his shot safely, and shortly afterwards a poorly headed clearance landed right at Talbot’s feet, but again Fowell responded quickly to hold it safely. shot from the edge of the box.
It took until the half-hour mark before the visitors created a significant chance, when Newns’ lively South Liverpool man Owen Hough had a good shot saved, but it was a moment of scant threat in a Daisy header.
Daisy finished the half on the front foot with Henry Chalkley curling a shot just wide from the edge of the box, before Jamie Ramwell cut a clearance from the keeper who diverted the ball into Talbot’s path, but it was quickly closed down. and crowded out as he tried to collect the loose ball.
It was a positive end to what had been a good 45 minutes, but the game soon turned in the visitors’ favor after the break.
After 49 minutes, they drew level when a ball into the box found Mohamed Abdi in space, and his deflected shot curled past the wrong-footed Newns.
It got worse for Daisy four minutes later when Liverpool South took the lead, a long ball down the left setting Hough free and the winger got forward in goal and fired past Newns.
Daisy hit back and came close to an equalizer two minutes later when Blerti’s cross found Jacaj Ramwell in the box, but Fowell sent his effort wide of the post.
However, at the midway point of the half, Liverpool South struck with a third goal, when substitute Neil Weaver picked the ball up on the right, and when the Daisy defense managed to retreat, he fired a shot past Newns into the chile. corner.
Four minutes later, Weaver was involved in the action again when he won a penalty after tripping just inside the box, but Hough’s penalty hit the post and was saved again.
Deep into stoppage time Hough hit the woodwork for a second time, this time with a shot from 25 yards that went back into play before the final whistle.
Daisy are back in action on Easter Monday when they host Atherton LR in the North West League First Division North (3pm).
