Match reportKatie Stengel snatches late win for LFC Women over Watford

The American striker rose to head home from close range on 83 minutes after a vital long throw from Megan Campbell, securing three precious points in the race for promotion from the FA Women’s Championship.

Stengel’s intervention prompted scenes of joy at Prenton Park among her teammates and in the stands after a frustrating afternoon for the Reds against a Watford team who looked like they might hold on for an unlikely point.

Matt Beard’s side enjoyed almost total domination but missed a succession of chances, while Watford goalkeeper Georgie Ferguson also made several fine saves to keep the visitors in it.

The result saw the table-topping Reds stretch their lead at the top of the division to seven points ahead of London City Lionesses, who have a game in hand.

It was Liverpool who threatened first on the day, a fine ball from Taylor Hinds on the left just evading Yana Daniels, who had arrived into the box late.

Watford settled and Campbell, making her first league start for the Reds, made a fine clearing header after some nice build-up play by the opposition.

Melissa Lawley found some space from a throw-in and tried her luck from distance; her dipping volley was on target but without the power to trouble Ferguson.

Beard’s charges did have the ball in the net on 19 minutes after a fine free-kick delivery from Hinds. Niamh Fahey’s header was parried by Ferguson before Daniels put in the rebound, but the assistant had the flag up for offside.

Watford were continuing to try to play out from the back and it was a strategy that looked ever more perilous as the half went on. And after they lost the ball just before the half-hour mark, Rachel Furness played in Leanne Kiernan, whose low effort could not get past the goalkeeper.

A controversial moment ensued with fewer than 10 minutes until half-time after a long goalkick from Rachael Laws.

Ferguson dithered and Hinds pounced, the Watford ’keeper then appearing to bring the Liverpool defender down for what would have been a red card. The referee, however, remained unmoved.

Five minutes before the break, Hinds was involved in another big chance. A lovely team move led to Furness playing in the 22-year-old, but she dragged her effort wide with just Ferguson to beat.

The Reds then produced perhaps their best football of the half after a fine ball out of defence from Campbell. Lawley slid in Kiernan and the in-form striker took it first time and sliced the opportunity wide.

Both sides offered an early threat in the second half. First, Lawley released Daniels but Ferguson rushed from her area to get there first. At the other end, Flo Fyfe evaded Fahey, though Rhiannon Roberts covered across well to clear the danger.

Missy Bo Kearns is always a threat from set-pieces and two great deliveries caused chaos in the Watford box. The first ended with Fahey’s shot blocked by a defender, before Roberts unleashed a goalbound effort that brought a terrific diving save from Ferguson.

Next, Watford again almost caused their own undoing when Kiernan was able to pinch the ball from Ferguson and take it around her, only for the shot to somehow drift past the far post.

Stengel and Ceri Holland were introduced from the bench, the former for her home debut, as the Reds sought the elusive breakthrough their domination deserved.

It finally came on 83 minutes, with Campbell hurling a long throw-in from the right and Stengel eventually heading the decisive goal past Ferguson into the net.

Daniels and Hinds both sent headers over late on, but one goal was enough as Liverpool’s new striker announced her arrival in style.

LFC Women: Laws, Roberts, Hinds, Matthews (Wardlaw, 70), Fahey, Campbell, Kearns, Daniels, Lawley (Bailey, 88), Furness (Holland, 58), Kiernan (Stengel, 58).

Unused substitutes: Clarke, Humphrey, Robe, Hodson, Moore.