Bootle Lose 4-3 On Penalties To Wirral Phoenix

By Brendan Doyle

Photos: Kate Tencza

Bootle started off confidently and on the front foot as Poppie O’Neill found Caitlyn Rogers unmarked around the area and played Rogers in but the Wirral Phoenix keeper met the ball first. Abbi Fowler picked up the ball from around twenty five yards out and carried it forward and got a shot away but the effort fizzed just wide.

Poppie O’Neill made a great run down the left hand side and managed to get away shot away from close range but it hit the near post, this was definitely Bootle’s closest chance of going 1-0 up in the first half. The half would end 0-0 with Bootle having most of the possession but just lacking in the opposition area to get their noses in front.

The second half also seen Bootle start strongly as Abbi Fowler laid a fantastic ball into Poppie O’Neill but the keeper made another save to the shot to deny Bootle an opener once again. As the game went on it was more end to end, but a heroic block off the line by Millie Davis seen Bootle stay in the game.

The game went to penalties and unfortunately for Bootle they were hit with a 4-3 defeat, but due to there being a draw in regular time and LWYFL Open Age Cup rules, Bootle gained a point and advanced to the semi finals.