Reds reserves slump to mini derby defeat

Posted by liverweb on October 14, 2008, 09:58:40 pm

Liverweb Reserves Match Report

Liverpool 2 Everton 3

The Reds were sent to their third straight defeat at reserve team level after being ahead by two goals to nil in the game. An amazing second half saw the Reds take a two goal lead only to be pegged back and ultimately succumb to defeat.

The Reds made a number of changes after last weeks match with Ronald Huth and Jordy Brouwer returning to the starting line up whilst there was a start for the fit again Francisco Duran.

The Reds were gifted a corner after just three minutes when Everton hit a back pass wide of Nash and out but the corner was easily taken by Carlo Nash in the air.

On six minutes the Reds had a chance when Insua capitalised on a mistake down the left and crossed in to the box but Pacheco hit it just wide with Brouwer also looking to nick he ball in to the net.

The ref was certainly card happy on the night rather than taking the weather in to consideration. Three yellow cards followed quite quickly including ones for Darby of Liverpool and Vaughan of Everton.

On twenty one minutes Baxter went wide with a shot when he really should have at least tested Bouzanis. A couple of minutes later and somehow Everton fluffed a god chance after Anichebe put in a good cross. The away side were certainly putting in a decent effort. The Reds meanwhile were just struggling for the final pass when they went forward.

Irving was the next in the book on twenty four minutes after he committed himself to a tackle on Insua that the Reds back was always favourite for. With the night being so wet the Everton captain slid through and sent Insua flying through the air.

On twenty eight minutes Everton had a half shout for a penalty but the ref rightly decided that San Jose cleanly eased him out of possession. Up at the other end the Reds broke well and it finished with them being awarded a fortunate free kick on the edge of the box when Spearing went down. Bruna hit the free kick straight in to the wall which by the time he came to hit it was about five yards away.

The frustrating thing on the night was proving to be the ref who just seemed over fussy and the game was suffering a little for it as well because it just wasn't flowing.

On thirty nine minutes yet another card came out as Wallace went in with his studs showing against Plessis and caught the young French star.

The Reds were starting to really play better now as they got the ball down and passed it about a bit but they still couldn't quite get that final ball right although all too often they were more guilty of over playing.

Three extra minutes were awarded at the end of the half mainly down to the fact that the ref stopped the clock so often to get his cards out even though it wasn't exactly a dirty game.

The visitors got the game started again. Within a minute the Reds went really close but when Duran pulled a ball back to Brouwer his shot was half charged down and it flicked up easily for Nash to grab hold of. I think a clean touch would have sent the ball in to the net.

At the other end the Blues did get the ball in to the net via Vaughan's head but the linesman had long since had his flag up for offside which was as well for Bouzanis who was flapping away in thin air.

The Reds started the half quite well but again they were wasting that last pass or decision.

The Reds finally broke the deadlock on fifty four minutes though and it was a good little move that got it. Spearing started a move in his own half with a basic give and go. He busted a gut to make a ball for himself and Spearing was gifted a great ball in the area but on his left foot. His shot across Nash was spilled by the Blues keeper and Brouwer got there just before Pacheco to score the opener.

On sixty one minutes Akpan replaced Baxter for the away side. Three minutes later and the Reds should've doubled their lead. Brouwer broke down the left and got to the bye line where he pulled it back and Pacheco missed it and then Bruna saw his shot at the back post well saved.

A minute later through and Bruna made amends by scoring a free kick from out wide. He whipped the ball in which looked as much like a cross as a shot and it flew in at the near post much to the shock of Nash in the Everton goal.

The visitors pulled one back through Vaughan on sixty eight minutes when he scored at the back post from an Akpan cross. It certainly livened the game up that's for sure.

Inside a minutes and the Blues were shouting for a penalty as Huth took down Anichebe just outside the box according to the ref but it was really tight. Huth saw yellow for his tackle and Molyneux stepped up and curled it right in to the top corner for a great goal in fairness.

The Reds went straight back to re start the game again and nearly caught Everton celebrating too long. The Reds made their first change with thirteen to go as Flynn replaced Bruna down the right as the game was really getting stretched.

James Vaughan then put Everton ahead with ten minutes to go as he got to a ball ahead of a very slow Dean Bouzanis who came out from his goal. All of a sudden it was all up hill for the Reds and they didn't deserve to be behind.

As time ran out Everton picked up a further two bookings Molyneux and then Akpan went in to the book. Amazingly there were six extra minutes added on at the end of the game. I guess the rain had stopped the refs watch but it was there for the Reds to use as much as they could.

Spearing had a shot charged down on ninety two when he just couldn't get the ball out from his feet. Pacheco then went close after some great skill in the box but his shot was saved by Nash. In the next move Brouwer headed disappointingly wide from the middle of the six yard line. Nash was booked for wasting time at the goal kick as it became easier to remember who hadn't been booked than who had.

Sadly though there just wasn't enough injury time that the ref could add to the match for the Reds to find an equaliser and they were left to rue not taking more command when they were ahead by two. I don't think we deserved to lose but we were made to pay for some awful defending at times.

MotM : Franciso Duran - looked really lively throughout the game and he will really hope to use this game as a great building block for himself.


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Liverpool Bouzanis, Darby (c), Insua, San Jose, Huth, Plessis, Duran, Spearing, Brouwer, Pacheco, Bruna (Flynn 78)

Unused Subs Kelly, Gulacsi, Irwin, Ayala

Goal Brouwer (54), Bruna (66)

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Everton Nash, Irving (c), Molyneux, Barnett, McCarten, Gosling, Kissock, Wallace, Vaughan, Anichebe (Agard 83), Baxter (Akpan 61)

Unused Subs Turner, Sinnott, Spencer

Goal Vaughan 2 (69, 82), Molyneux (72)

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Referee Mr Cummins
Venue Halliwell Jones

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