Birmingham City move up to fifth

By Tony Leighton

Birmingham City climbed three places to fifth in the Women's Premier League with a 3-2 win at Liverpool in the only match of a weather-hit weekend.

All the other top-flight games were postponed, as were the majority of the FA Women's Cup third round ties.

Over half of the 20 scheduled ties were called off as the regional division teams stepped into the competition.

The shock of the day came at Brighton, who went down 1-0 to Luton Town of the South East Combination.

Women's Premier League

Liverpool 2-3 Birmingham City

Liverpool striker Cheryl Foster went from hero to zero, scoring the opening goal but then missing a penalty that could have earned the Reds a point.

Foster put the home side ahead with a neat finish after just 10 minutes, but Dannii Bird equalised following a Birmingham throw-in on the half-hour.

England Under-20 striker Becky Hall then shot the visitors in front with a close-range effort a minute before the interval.

Liverpool were back on level terms two minutes into the second half, however, Shelly James forcing the ball home after two shots had been blocked.

Eight minutes later the visitors regained the lead through a well-struck Heather Scheuber shot which proved to be the winner.

It might have been so different though, if Foster had hit the net instead of the post with her 70th-minute spot-kick.

Defeat left the Reds precariously placed just four points above the relegation zone and having played two more matches than both of the bottom two clubs.

FA Women's Cup, third round

Over half of the 20 scheduled ties were postponed as the Women's Premier League regional division teams stepped into the competition.

Shock of the day came at Brighton, where the Premier League Southern Division team went down 1-0 to Luton Town of the South East Combination.

Lewes, also of the South East Combination, went through on penalties after a 1-1 draw with South West Combination side Chesham United.

Two other ties went to penalties, Preston beating Northern Division rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City knocking out fellow Southern Division side Keynsham.