Liverpool FC Women 5, Bristol City 2: A Hat Trick Hero

We all know this season hasn’t been great for the Liverpool Women, in the midst of an epic rebuild. Literally, from the ground up. Just when they were looking to get things back on track, they suffered a couple defeats back to back through the month of March. Not great, of course, but the game goes on, as it always does. The Reds played Bristol City at their home of Prenton Park on Sunday and were determined to wash the bad taste of four successive defeats out of their mouths, and boy did they succeed.

The Reds were at full strength, with Niamh Charles rejoining the squad after a lengthy injury spell, as well as Ashley Hodson putting a stamp on the high goal scoring affair. The opening goal came 12 minutes in courtesy of of Rinsola Babajide pouncing on the harrying efforts of Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and from there it was off to the races for Babjide specifically.

It didn’t take long, though, for the away side to find an unfortunate equalizer when Danique Kerkdijk fired out from distance and scorched the net. From there it was a fight to find a winner as the Reds worked their hardest to get ahead, and get ahead they did. Babajide once again came to the rescue, dancing her way past a Bristol defender to make it 2 to the home side just four minutes from the end of the first half. The excitement didn’t stop there, though, as Laura Coombs found Yana Daniels’ head and the Belgian striker made it three against her former club.

It was the second half when England international Niamh Charles made a triumphant return to the pitch as a substitute for Daniels and got to work as soon as she in it. Of course, it was Babajide’s afternoon to shine as she chased every ball she could and made herself a nuisance against Bristol. Babajide saw an effort cleared off the line unfortunately close but that only spurred her on to complete her hat trick at 65 minutes on, sending a shot home with the kind of composure that should be applauded every time.

From there it was just damage control for Bristol. They found a second goal late in the second half but it would be the returning Ashley Hodson who’d have the final say of the day, scoring Liverpool’s fifth goal of the afternoon by lobbing it past the keeper gracefully.