LFC WomenReds beat Sheff Utd on penalties in Continental League Cup

There was very little to separate the fellow FA Women’s Championship sides on Wednesday evening and with a point apiece secured in 90 minutes, spot-kicks offered the chance for one more.

Just as they were in their previous tie against Aston Villa, the Reds were best from 12 yards and Taylor Hinds slotted home the decisive penalty once Bex Rayner had hit the crossbar.

The result also makes it eight games unbeaten for Matt Beard’s team, who return to their quest for promotion at home to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.

Chances were limited during the opening half of the contest at Technique Stadium, though Liverpool threatened twice as they grew into proceedings.

First, Yana Daniels sent in a promising cross that neither Rachel Furness nor Lucy Parry were able to connect with as they arrived at the back post.

Then Meikayla Moore tried to force the ball over the line from Carla Humphrey’s free-kick but Blades goalkeeper Nina Wilson kept the effort out.

Katie Startup, brought into the Reds’ starting XI between the posts, needed to stop a Rayner strike from the edge of the box and the interval arrived with the clash in stalemate.

Beard made a triple substitution ahead of the second period, with Hinds, Missy Bo Kearns and Leighanne Robe introduced to the search for a breakthrough.

It was Sheffield United making more of the running, however, and after Maddy Cusack hit the side-netting, Startup was again called into action to bravely thwart Alethea Paul.

Ceri Holland, also on from the bench with a quarter of the match remaining, almost served up a finish for Ashley Hodson with her cross and Hinds was later off target with a strike from distance.

Neither team could find the moment of quality to snatch all three points and, as per the Continental League Cup format, a penalty shootout followed the full-time whistle with an additional point on offer to the winners.

Liverpool netted from all five attempts – through Moore, Holland, Robe, Kearns and Hinds – as Rayner clattered the woodwork, making it four points from two fixtures in the competition so far.

Liverpool FC Women: Startup, Parry, Moore, Silcock (Roberts, 66), Matthews (Hinds, 46), Daniels (Robe, 46), Bailey, Humphrey, Furness (Kearns, 46), Hodson, Walters (Holland, 66).

Unused substitutes: Laws, Fahey.