Match reportLFC Women beat Aston Villa in pre-season friendly

The Irish striker thumped home a left-footed shot in just the second minute as Matt Beard’s side enjoyed another valuable 90 minutes in the legs in the build-up to the Barclays Women’s Super League campaign.

The Reds scored from their first passage of play as they started the match with real intent.

Carla Humphrey started the action with a fine curling shot, which home goalkeeper Anna Leat could only turn away for a corner.

Villa couldn’t clear the first delivery from Megan Campbell and when Missy Bo Kearns sent in a second from the other side, the oncoming Kiernan ran on to the loose ball to lash home the opener.

Set-pieces continued to be a profitable source of chances for the visitors and another corner from Campbell was headed just over the top by Rachel Furness.

The first danger from the hosts came courtesy of Freya Gregory but her effort never looked like beating Rachael Laws and drifted wide of the post.

Furness continued to be a threat in the Villa box, heading another dangerous corner from Kearns onto the top of the crossbar with 20 minutes gone.

The Reds vice-captain had another effort blocked after a fine team move, while Hannah Silcock put her body on the line to block a powerful effort from Villa’s Kenza Dali at the other end.

Five minutes before the break, LFC Women should have doubled their lead.

Kearns was the creator with a fine first-time pass that Kiernan took perfectly in her stride, but her final shot was too close to Leat to leave the advantage at just one at the break.

Clear-cut chances were at an even greater premium in the second half, with both teams working hard to plug gaps.

Villa had more possession in the period but Reds substitute goalkeeper Eartha Cumings was tested mainly in gathering crosses and in her distribution.

The best chance for the hosts came from a free-kick from the industrious Dali but Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah headed it wide.

LFC Women’s best opportunity to stretch their lead came courtesy of a sumptuous team move midway through the half.

Melissa Lawley sent Emma Koivisto away down the right with a lovely pass and the Finnish defender’s pinpoint cross was headed narrowly wide by Katie Stengel.

Any hopes of an equaliser for Villa were ended by a terrific block from Rhiannon Roberts as she denied Boye-Hlorkah to ensure another pre-season victory for Beard’s squad, who will now face West Ham United on Sunday at Loughborough.