Draw with league leaders feels like a defeat
Livingston Women’s boss Paul Jaconelli admits his side’s 3-3 draw at home to unbeaten Championship South leaders Edinburgh City felt like a defeat.
The Lionesses had control of the game but conceded twice in the final eight minutes to drop to fifth in the table.
Livi would rue missed chances as they had a two-goal lead on two occasions but were unable to put the game away.
The fixture got off to an eventful start with both teams striking the bar in the opening 15 minutes.
Hannah Markley went close for the visitors with Ashley Fish replicating City’s effort at the other end.
Fish wouldn’t have to wait too long for her next chance and this time made no mistake as she finished from six yards out after a tremendous run down the right from Sharon Hughes-Lee.
Livingston gained momentum from the opener and would net another as Rachel Walkingshaw unleashed a brilliant strike from distance which City
goalkeeper Kelli Hanman couldn’t stop.
A change of formation in the second half saw the visitors offer more threat, especially from set-pieces.
And it was from one that City pulled a goal back 15 minutes from time as Nicole Rutherford headed home.
It wouldn’t be long, though, until Livi had their two-goal lead back, with Dodds replicating Walkingshaw’s long-range effort from the first half. The forward picked the ball up 35 yards from goal and gave Hanman absolutely no chance to put the home side 3-1 up.
A slack final 10 minutes would prove costly, however.
Livi failed to clear their lines which allowed Rutherford to nod home her second before, after a period of real pressure, Markley earned her side a draw with a fine finish into the top corner as the ball fell to her on the edge of the box.
Jaconelli said:“I think we mainly put ourselves in bother. I think we dominated the game. I thought at 3-1 that they were finished and we let them back into it.
He added:“We had three one-on-ones and two off the bar. We’ll just move on.
“The girls are all disappointed. We put a lot into the game and mistakes just happen sometimes.
“It’s a draw but very much feels like a defeat.”