5-STAR SECOND HALF PERFORMANCE FROM THE BUCKS

By Freddie Bullen

The girls returned to league action in style with an incredible second-half performance to make up for a quiet and disappointing first-half display, sealing a 5–3 win away at the Tiber Football Centre against bottom-of-the-league Sefton Park Rangers.

It was a quick start for the hosts as the Bootle defence failed to deal with a bouncing ball from a Rangers goal kick, allowing Sefton Park’s No.17 to break through on goal and slot low into the bottom left corner to give the hosts an early lead. It was a quiet first half for the Bucks as few chances were created, with the biggest threat to Rangers’ lead coming in the 22nd minute when Ellie Roberts danced through the defence and created space for a shot that went just wide of the far post. Not long after, the hosts doubled their advantage. Despite a Bootle player going down injured and shouts for treatment, play continued. The initial shot was saved by keeper Izzy Cartwright, but the rebound fell kindly to Rangers’ No.17 again, who tapped home her second of the day. Despite some late opportunities to pull one back before the break, the Bucks went into half-time trailing by two.

It was a lightning-quick start from the Bucks in the second half as, straight from kick-off, Bootle overwhelmed Sefton Park’s defence. Ev Isuala quickly picked up the ball and played through Amber Boussemart, who calmly finished to bring Bootle back into the game within a minute of the restart. Moments later, the Sefton Park keeper mishit her drop-kick straight to the feet of Ellie Roberts, who struck an incredible 35-yard effort that flew into the net to level the game within ten minutes of the second half. Just three minutes later, Roberts grabbed her second of the day. A corner whipped in from the right-hand side found her unmarked at the back post, and she headed perfectly past the keeper to put the Bucks in front and complete the comeback.

However, the Bucks weren’t finished yet. A long ball forward toward Abbi Fowler caused confusion in the Rangers back line, as their No.16 tried to play it back to the keeper but underhit her pass. Fowler reacted quickest, rounded the onrushing keeper, and slotted into an open net to double Bootle’s advantage. It was two goals in quick succession for Fowler, as just three minutes later Anna Bailey played a perfect through ball into her path, and she made no mistake with a low finish into the bottom right corner to make it 5–2 in Toxteth. Despite being down by three, the hosts didn’t give up and were rewarded in the 70th minute when a corner from the right wasn’t cleared and was volleyed home into the bottom left corner to bring the deficit back to two. Despite late efforts from the hosts to find another goal, it was mostly Bootle on top for the final 20 minutes, and the girls were delighted to hear the final whistle confirm another important three points away from home.

That win puts the Bucks just a point behind MSB Woolton in the final promotion spot and gives the girls a huge confidence boost going into another short break from action — a fantastic performance and a well-earned victory on the road.

Final Score: Sefton Park Rangers 3–5 Bootle FC Women