FA Youth Cup 4th Round: Liverpool 2 Ipswich Town 1

Posted by liverweb on January 20, 2006, 11:33:14 am

Liverweb Youth Cup Match Report: Liverpool 2 Ipswich Town 1

Match Photos: www.liverweb.org.uk/youthcupr40506pics.htm

Liverpool: Roberts, Roque, Darby (capt.), Hobbs, Antwi, Ryan, Anderson, Flynn, Frayne, Hammill, Barratt

Subs Used: Barnett for Ryan (52), Linfield for Frayne (75), Smith for Flynn (90)

Subs Unused: Josh Mimms, Robbie Threlfall

Ipswich: Petursson, Moore, Robinson, Trotter, Casement (capt.), Short, Fenn, Knights, Leabon, Upson, Ainsley

Subs Used: Sheringham for Fenn (60), Webster for Upson (79)

Subs Unused: Plummer, Boto, Nimmo

Att: 1,435



The Reds made it through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup despite some late panic and a disallowed goal for the visiting Ipswich Town. The goals came courtesy of Paul Anderson and Ryan Flynn and the Reds march on to face Burnley away in the next round of the competition.

Ipswich got the game underway attacking the Kop end in the first half. Ipswich attacked straight from the off and had a shot over the bar from the off. The first real effort for the Reds came after four minutes when Adam Hammill cut inside and bent a shot on goal but it was easy for the Ipswich keeper.

Dave Roberts was called in to fast recovery action after seven minutes when he was forced to clear a poor back pass from Godwin Antwi. The Reds were trying to play football but had a fundamental flaw in keeping hold of the ball for any period of time. Much of the play was focused around using Paul Anderson down the right hand side.

Dave Roberts was again in the action after eleven minutes when he was sharp in saving a shot from Leabon and then managed to grab a follow up shot with ease. Roberts was in great form on the night and is probably the main reason Ipswich only got one goal on the night.

Jack Hobbs went close on eighteen minutes when he headed and Anderson cross goalwards. However the header was blocked and then cleared to keep the game all square.On twenty minutes even the ball boys couldn't reach one ball that was hoofed so high it was stuck in the Upper Centenary stand.

Midway through the half the Reds created a superb chance when Hammill spread the ball to the right where Anderson crossed it in. Frayne met the cross and glanced his header just past the far post for what would have been a great goal.

On twenty eight minutes there was a bizarre incident that you rarely see. The Ipswich keeper, Petursson had hold of the ball in his area but fell over. On falling he lost control of the ball and when he then picked it up again the referee realised his duty and awarded a free kick to the Reds. Sadly the Reds wasted the chance as Jimmy Ryan shot in to the wall.

Just after the half hour Miki Roque was left all ends up by his man on the edge of the area. Just as you feared the net bulging Roberts pulled off a quite superb save at full stretch at the foot of the goal. Roberts was also on hand just inside first half injury time as he tipped over a free kick from Casement.

The second half saw the Reds attacking the Kop end. Six minutes in to the half and Anderson whipped a free kick in which Frayne headed wide of the goal. The second half was certainly far more open than the first thankfully. The tie of course had to be settled on the night so there was the potential of extra time and penalties looming.

The Reds made a switch in the midfield when they brought Charlie Barnett on for Jimmy Ryan on fifty one minutes and within two minutes the Reds were one up. Barnett did alter the way we were in the midfield. The goal came as Barnett played a ball to Anderson who struck the ball home superbly well. It gave the Reds a lot of confidence as well and minutes later Anderson crossed for Frayne but with an ideal position the ball was just whipped off his feet before he could shoot.

Sheringham replaced Fenn on the hour mark and just as with the Reds a goal quickly followed. This one went to Ipswich and seem to catch the watching Kop unaware. Ainsley score a curling shot from the left edge of the area with Roberts for once left standing. The ball hit the net and it was very much game on again.

The Reds slowly started to get in to the game more and control the ball a bit. Hamill starting getting more of the ball and he jinked his way through players at ease. On sixty four minutes he saw a shot saved well after avoiding three tackles. The Reds were back in the lead on seventy one minutes thanks to Ryan Flynn who drilled home a low shot after Godwin had played him in.

As time wore on Ipswich became a bit more cavalier in their attempts to get a way back in to the game. They forced their way back in to it after the Reds had threatened to take the game by the scruff of the neck and win. On eighty one minutes they had the ball in the net and were off celebrating before they realised the linesman had his flag up. It was a let off for the Reds but it did start a final passage of panic.

The final ten minutes and four minutes of injury time saw the Reds fail to get hold of the ball and you feared a goal at any time. Thankfully the Reds had Dave Roberts in goal though. With three minutes left of the ninety he saved with his leg as a shot came in from the edge of the area and in to injury time pulled off a full stretch save.

The ref added four extra minutes on at the end and within this gave some bizarre fouls to Ipswich. One foul, well I call it a foul because a free kick was given came right in front of us by the corner flag. The usual take the ball to the corner flag routine came in and after Barratt merely moved the ball away from one player the ref blew for a free kick. He then let the kick be taken despite the fact that the ball was rolling. Anyone would think the ref wanted extra time! After time though the ref blew the final whistle and the Reds march on to Burnley in the 5th round.

MotM: Dave Roberts Roberts kept the Reds in the game throughout the match. He was in great form and bar the goal nothing was going to get past him.

© Andy Philip, Liverweb 2006

View Comments | Post Comment