United’s late heartbreak but Blues secure key win

A SENSATIONAL late brace of freekicks from Katharina Baunach gave West Ham the spoils as they beat United 3-2 in the Women’s Super League.

The Reds gave the visitors the lead in London but Laura Vetterlein headed Matt Beard’s side level all before five minutes had been played.

Lauren James put United back ahead with 10 minutes left, before Baunach’s set-piece levelled the scores.

West Ham’s Leanne Kiernan was shown a second yellow card, but Baunach got a second free-kick up and over the wall with seconds left to seal the win. “If I’m being brutally honest, there’s a lot we need to look at right across the group and today, disappointingly, a lack of desire was up there,” said United boss Casey Stoney.

Meanwhile, Gemma Bonner scored the only goal as City beat Liverpool 1-0 at the CFA. The first-half was one-way traffic, Janine Beckie spearheading all the Blues early attempts before Bonner netted by getting a touch on a well-worked cross on 21 minutes.

City’s Laura Coombs said: “Liverpool made it difficult for us, particularly in the second half where we were hanging on a bit at the end, but it was a good win for us.

“It was a different type of win for us, more like how were going to have to play like next week against Chelsea where we’ll have to defend for periods of the game.”

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