Liverpool Ladies Secure Comfortable Win Against Sunderland

Liverpool Ladies had a great weekend as Natasha Harding’s hat-trick took them to an easy victory at Sunderland on Saturday. The Reds had a difficult start when former Liverpool midfielder, Lucy Staniforth, netted a superb shot 10 minutes in. Less than a minute later, however, Harding beat two defenders and the goalkeeper to respond with her first of the night.

The Reds had several more chances in the first half, but it wasn’t until after the break that Liverpool took the lead. The home side had two excellent chances from Bruinenberg and Wyne, both of which Chamberlain was able to save, before Alex Greenwood put Liverpool ahead 58 minutes in.

A few minutes later, Harding beat Laws to score her second.

Harding netted her third, and gave Liverpool a comfortable win over the home side, in the 86th minute.

The Welsh international was naturally pleased with the performance.

“The girls dug in,” Harding said after the game. “It was really hard in the first half with the wind against us but we reacted really well. We knew when we went in at half-time, the wind would be coming with us in the second half so we went up two or three levels and they couldn’t keep up with us then.”

“It was really hard to compete against them and the wind, but we stepped up in the second half.”

When asked about her hat-trick, Harding played off her contribution to the game just a bit.

“I don’t feel too bad considering I have been away on international duty for 12 days,” Harding added. “I have just come back from Russia on Wednesday, had one day’s training so I’m really pleased individually obviously, but I’m delighted with the girls and the three points.”

Liverpool Ladies will meet Durham Women FC on Sunday the 5th of November.