Women's Super League: Liverpool beat Lincoln to go joint top

Liverpool moved joint top of the Women's Super League with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Lincoln.

Carla Cantrell gave Lincoln an early lead, only for Natasha Dowie to equalise for the hosts.

A Bonnie Horwood own goal and a Louise Fors strike put Liverpool in control, only for Precious Hamilton to pull a goal back 15 minutes from time.

The Reds are now level on points, goal difference and goals scored with Bristol Academy.

The Imps had gone ahead after nine minutes, Cantrell latching on to a poor back pass by Lucy Bronze to slip the ball under goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill.

But the scores were level 10 minutes later when Dowie, after her first shot had been blocked, drove home the rebound for her eighth goal of the campaign.

Midfielder Sophie Walton went close with long range effort as the visitors looked to regain the lead.

Liverpool began to gain the upper hand, however, and just before half time Swedish midfielder Fors struck a 20-yard free-kick against the bar.

The home side took the lead two minutes after the break, Horwood attempting to clear a Fara Williams cross but instead heading into her own net.

And the Reds went further ahead when Nicole Rolser's 57th-minute pass set up Fors to tuck the ball home.

But a storming finale was set up when, 15 minutes from time, Hamilton curled a tremendous 25-yard strike into the corner of the Liverpool net.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages but Liverpool held out to leave the Imps still waiting for their first league win of the campaign.