Title: Reds U18's draw at Everton
Post by: liverweb on October 7, 2006, 03:05:56 pm
Liverweb Match Report: Everton U18's 0 Liverpool U18's 0
A relatively entertaining 0-0 draw saw neither side look really likely to break the stalemate. The game, played at Netherton pitched two sides who haven't won all season. The young Reds just can't score at the moment despite some good build up play. Everton aren't exactly scoring for fun either this year and it shouldn't have been a surprise that the game finished 0-0. The Reds deserved a goal for their play on the day but ultimately their shot shy strikers drew blank once again.
Everton kicked off in the match with the wind coming at them in the main. Inside the first minute Laurence Gaughan was caught out for the Reds. Having lost the ball though he was grateful to Roberts who was out well to cut the cross out.
On seven minutes the Reds had their first chance from a wind assisted clearance from Roberts. Pringle tried to get to the ball and nudge it past the keeper but Jones was out well and headed the ball clear on the edge of his area.
On eleven minutes Barnett and Kissock went for a fifty fifty ball on the wing. The Everton midfielder though came off worst and stayed down in agony. At that point the ref decided to give a free kick. Kissock though stayed down and after lengthy treatment he was stretchered off and Everton's main provider was gone. Hoogerwerf came on to replace the midfielder.
The first half was an attacking affair from both sides but both lacked that final pass or shot. On seventeen minutes Burns got back really well to prevent a Blue shot going in on goal. Up at the other end Ben Parsonage had a cross shot which the keeper ended up tipping on to the bar and out for a corner. A minute later an Putterill was in after he flicked a ball over the Everton back line but his low drilled shot was easily saved by Jones.
The Reds really should have taken the lead on twenty six minutes. Jonathon Pringle got behind his man and squared the ball across the area for Barrett who came in unmarked but he somehow managed to side foot his shot over the bar.
As the half wore on it was the Reds who were in control of the majority of play with Barrett and Parsonage offering good width to the game. Ryan Wignall was playing superbly in midfield. Wignall picked up a booking on thirty nine minutes for what was a rash tackle on his man.
Half time came and saw the two sides huddled round in two circles on the far side of the pitch. After just ten minutes break the Reds got the game underway again. The second half just didn't flow as easily as the first though. The Red went to much for the long ball over the top which just wasn't going to work with two small strikers and big Everton defenders. At the other end Spearing and Gaughan left the Reds with little to do as they strolled through the game.
On the hour mark Spearing had to be aware of the danger in his area as he cleared a cross to the back post. It was a vital header with Spencer waiting to head home behind him. Three minutes later at the other end the Reds attacked down the left. Barrett beat his man and crossed deep but Putterill headed wide.
Everton made a switch a minute later as Molyneux replaced Connor. Connor certainly announced his arrival on the game as he was on the end of a warning from the ref a minute later. He went in late on Behan with his studs showing but a word is all it took - it is academy level after all and yellow cards don't come cheaply here.
On sixty six minutes Everton keeper Jones was again out well to head clear on the edge of his own area. In the follow up play from the Reds Barrett went close with a shot from twenty five yards but it sailed just past the outside of the post.
The Reds made a triple change on sixty seven minutes. Gauaghan was down with an injury which meant he couldn't continue. He went off along with Parsonage and Pringle. Collins, Awang and O'Connor all came on but the Reds were forced to switch it around at the back. Michael Burns slotted in next to spearing and Barrett tucked in to the left back slot. It certainly didn't stop Barrett's attacking skills though. On seventy five minutes he forced the keeper in to a save when he let fly with a long range effort.
The game slowly started to stretch out a lot now and in the final five minutes you got the feeling that the Reds would score. In the final minute as well they really should have done as well. Putterill played it to Collins but he somehow managed to side foot his shot over the bar. Anything lower and the net would have been bulging. As the ref blew for time the large crowd that had come all sloped off home and the Reds were left to rue another day of firing blanks. The Reds were the better side for me even excluding bias but they just can't seem to score at all.
Man of the Match: Jay Spearing - played ever so well at the back and put in one or two superb tackles at the last second. He worked really hard though and captained the side well. Paul Barrett also did really well up and down the left side and on a better day his crosses would have fell more invitingly. Michael burns also did really well to move from left back to centre back midway through the second half.
Liverpool: Roberts, Behan, Burns, Spearing, Gaughan (Collins 67), Barnett, Parsonage (Awang 67), Wignall, Pringle (O'Connor 67), Putterill, Barrett
Unused Subs: MacDonald, Scott
Everton: Jones, Stewart, Cleary, Rodwell, Kearney, Densmore (C), Connor (Molyneux 64), Akpan, Agard (Elder 77), Spencer, Kissock (Hoogerwerf (15)
Unused Subs: Davies, Irving
Referee: Mr. M Ackerman
Kick Off: 11.00am, Netherton
© Andy Philip, Liverweb 2006
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