Riko Ueki scored a last-gasp equaliser to salvage a valuable point as West Ham secured a 1-1 Super League draw against Liverpool at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

Marie Hobinger opened the scoring for Liverpool early in the second half before Ueki claimed the stoppage-time leveller to deny former Liverpool boss Matt Beard a winning return to the Hammers.

The Reds could have made a dream start within the opening two minutes as some patient build-up play saw Ceri Holland deliver a dangerous cross to Natasha Flint, who failed to find the target.

Beard’s side came close once again with Hobinger’s inswinging corner falling into the path of Gemma Bonner as she looped her header wide of the post.

The Merseysiders applied further pressure into the West Ham box and Japan international Fuka Nagano’s low driving effort on target forced goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold into a fantastic save at the far post before Sophie Haug fired over the crossbar.

Liverpool full-back Taylor Hinds and Holland combined down the left to create another goalscoring chance, but Anouk Denton managed to clear the danger.

The visitors almost took the lead before half-time, Holland tried her luck after curling an effort that hit the frame of the woodwork.

Liverpool started the second half in familiar fashion and Emma Koivisto glided an inch-perfect cross that was parried away for a corner by Hammers defender Hawa Cissoko.

Two minutes later, Hobinger delivered another dangerous corner that was met by Bonner, whose bursting header hit the crossbar and Hinds launched an ambitious strike from distance which looped over the crossbar.

In the 52th minute, Beard’s side made their pressure count and took the lead through Hobinger.

West Ham defender Shannon Cooke’s misplaced pass found Holland on the edge of the box. The Wales midfielder squared the ball to Hobinger, who comfortably slotted it into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead.

Just after the hour mark, the home side had their best chance of the game when Viviane Asseyi capitalised on a loose pass and managed to round Reds goalkeeper Rachel Lewis – but the France international slipped at the decisive moment.

Former Bayern Munich forward Asseyi was then awarded a free-kick that was fired wide of the post.

The Reds could have doubled their advantage after some sloppy play from the West Ham backline as the ball was gifted to substitute Missy Bo Kearns, but the 22-year-old’s effort on goal went wide.

In the fifth minute of stoppage-time, Mel Filis delivered a final cross into the Liverpool box and the ball fell to Ueki as she managed to scramble into the penalty area and tapped the ball into the net to steal a share of the points.