Reds reserves repeat first team Derby Double

Posted by liverweb on April 2, 2008, 10:59:40 am

Everton 0 Liverpool 1

The Reds took another step towards winning the reserve league North last night by doing what the first team did at the weekend and beat Everton by one goal to nil.

This wasn't the greatest spectacle on earth it has to be said but a solitary goal in the second half by Jordy Brouwer was enough for the Reds to take maximum points. They now need just two points from their remaining three games to secure the title.

The Reds got the game underway at the Stobart stadium in Widnes.

Within a couple of minutes the Reds nearly conceded as David Martin dropped a ball in his six yard box. The wind played havoc at times with high balls but this time Huth cleared his lines well.

Emiliano Insua picked up a yellow card on four minutes when he tackled O'Kane. It seemed a bit harsh but then the ref seemed a bit picky against both sides on the night.

Jordy Brouwer had the first real chance for the Reds when he shot over the bar when found by Spearing. A minute later and Insua was played in behind the line well but shot wide of the far post when he should have at least hit the target.

Brouwer then headed over from a Pennant cross as the Dutch striker just couldn't get over the ball.

The Reds had a half penalty shout on eighteen minutes when Nemeth jinked his way in to the box but he was eased out of it. A penalty would have been very generous if it was given. The ball was half cleared to Pennant who forced a save from Jones at his near post.

A few minutes later and Nemeth had a better shout for a penalty when he raced at Dennehy and after jinking around him was brought down at the same time another defender came in to clear the ball. That clearance is probably why the ref played on.

Everton had a glorious chance on twenty nine minutes when Rodwell was picked out at the far post but after taking the ball down he shot right across the goal.

Molyneux was booked on the half hour when he twice tried to take a free kick despite the ref telling him to wait for the whistle.

Jay Spearing went on a good run on forty two minutes and picked up a neta ball through by Insua but his shot was dragged past the near post when he really should have been hitting the target. On the stroke of half time it was Huth who was in action when he threw himself in front of a shot heading for the back of the net.

Neither side made a change at half time and Everton started it off again. The second half saw the Reds dominate far more than the first half.

Nine minutes in to the half and the Reds really should have been given a penalty when Pennant crossed. His ball though was clearly pushed out by Agard's hand and deliberately so. However the ref claimed he didn't see it and somehow the linesman missed it too despite being on that side of the pitch.

The Reds really started to pick the game up now and dominated. Pennant came even more in to the game and looked a danger all the time. On sixty one minutes he won the ball in his own half and raced the full length of the pitch before feeding Nemeth who made a mess of the opportunity.

Just a minute later and the Reds were in the lead. Darby and Nemeth linked up well on the inside right channel. Nemeth fed Darby racing in to the box and he fired a cross to the six yard box and somehow the ball flew in to the net from Brouwer. He swivelled over the ball as he got there and somehow he put it in but I've no idea what part of him put it away. In fairness nobody cared as the Reds were now ahead and with the defence looking as mean as ever the game was effectively won.

The Reds were always the side more likely to score a second on the night although it never actually came. Spearing and Nemeth both had shots blocked before the first group of subs was made. That in itself proved a lengthy process as the fourth official struggled with the technology.

Everton brought on Baxter and Codling for Morrison and Connor whilst the Reds brought on Andras Simon for Brouwer.

Darby was booked on seventy one as he was late on Agard out on the right. A minute layer and Harpur was booked for them despite the contact on Plessis being minimal.

The one player I was surprised never saw yellow on the night was Agard who on seventy three minutes was all over Pennant as he raced down the line. Somehow he escaped a card. He was also lucky to escape one with five minutes to go as he put his boot in on Martin after he grabbed a loose ball at the second attempt. Martin needed treatment at that point but was able to carry on. That was crucial at the time as the Reds had since used Bruna for Pennant and Flynn for Spearing.

As time wore on the game just seemed to drift a little. Everton didn't seem to have anything to offer back against the Reds which meant the back line was untroubled although San Jose and Huth played really well anyway whilst at the other end the Reds just couldn't quite create that clear chance to double the score.

After about five minutes of added time the ref blew to end the game and the Reds were all but reserve champions.

MotM : Jermaine Pennant - good display by the Reds winger which will do his confidence the world of good. It couldn't have been easy dropping down a level knowing the Reds' first team were due to play and he wasn't involved.

Liverpool    Martin, Darby (c), Insua, San Jose, Huth, Plessis, Pennant (Bruna 77), Spearing (Flynn 81), Brouwer (Simon 70), Nemeth, El Zhar

Unused Subs    Gulacsi, Kelly

Goal    Brouwer (62)

Everton    Jones, Densmore, Molyneux, Irving, Dennehy, Harpur, O'Kane, Rodwell, Agard, Morrison (Baxter 69), Connor (Codling 70)

Unused Subs    Stubhaug, Sinnott, McCarten

Referee    C Sarginson

Att    3380

Venue    Stobart Stadium, Halton

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