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| Tuesday 28 March 2006 19:00 Liverpool -
Middlesbrough 0 - 2 FA Premiership Reserves League (Northern Division) |
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Liverweb
Reserves Match Report |
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Liverpool : Martin, Barragan, Woods, Roque, Antwi,
O'Donnell, Peltier, Hobbs (C), Foy, Anderson, Guthrie.
Subs Used : Calliste for Anderson (HT), Lindfield for Woods (69), Flynn for Hobbs
(85)
Unused subs: Lancaster, Threlfall
Liverpool reserves slumped to a 2-0 win at home to Middlesboro last night. A very
youthful Reds side played in the cold, rain and wind that is typical of the academy. The
game was switched from Wrexham and a couple of hundred fans braved the elements to watch
this one. The loss was cruel on the balance of the whole game which saw a dull and
uninteresting first half spark in to more life come the second.
The Reds got the game underway defending the academy end in the first half and
played with three at the back. O'Donnell, Antwi and Roque forged a back line with Calum
Woods and Antonio Barragan making up the wing back positions. The first chance for the
Reds came on three minutes when Paul Anderson chased down a long ball. Having hassled the
defender his clearance bounced off him and Anderson went clear only to blaze his shot high
and wide of the goal.
Boro's first real threat came on eight minutes when Adam Johnson attacked down the
left. He left Barragan on the seat of his pants only to then cross too deep for Craddock.
Six minutes later and from the opposite flank Boro attacked but Calum Woods was back well
to clear the danger when the cross was put in. Woods was again in defensive action four
minutes later when he was needed to clear a ball from Craddock who had cut in from their
right hand side.
The Reds were looking quite ordinary up front but with no recognised striker on the
pitch its hardly a wonder. Guthrie played a superb ball round the back of the defence
midway through the half for Anderson but his shot from fifteen yards was easily saved by
the keeper. The half was a dull affair though from now on and there was nothing to note
down. The good thing about that was it did at least mean I could get me hands in my
pockets to stay warm.
Boro were out first for the second half and ready for the action. The Reds came out
and made a change, bring on Ramon Calliste for Paul Anderson. The one other change was
that the referee had changed as well. The lino from my side of the pitch had now become
ref and the fourth official was forced to run the line.
The Reds had the first chance of the half and they both fell to Calum Woods. First
of all he headed goalwards only to see it cleared. Calliste then played the ball back in
and Woods, who hadn't moved then volleyed at goal only to see David Knight save well.
Four minutes in to the half and the Reds were cruelly behind. Adam Johnson had a
shot on goal which Martin would have had covered but it deflected away off Roque to the
opposite side of the goal and Martin slipped in his attempt to change his direction. It
was a cruel blow but at least the Reds had plenty of time to rally and at least now had a
forward on the pitch as well.
A minute after the goal and Lee Peltier strode forward but his shot from distance
went side of the goal. Antonio Barragan had an impressive second half and on fifty four
minutes he tried to take on every Boro player in his attempt to score. After weaving his
way past them all he finished his routine with a woeful shot. It was encouraging though at
least. On fifty eight minutes the Reds should have been back in the game and if Danny
O'Donnell can explain his miss I'd be very interested. Robbie Foy played a corner ball in
and it fell to the defender just three yards from goal, unmarked. Somehow he managed to
head the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.
Just after the hour mark Calliste held the ball up well before playing Robbie Foy
in but his shot went straight at the keeper. The Reds made a second switch on sixty nine
minutes when Craig Lindfield arrived for Calum Woods and the Reds went back to a normal
442 style. It actually helped the Reds quite a bit to have the shape like this. Within a
minute of coming on Lindfield should have equalised. He was played in round the back and
with the flag rightly down he was through on goal. He was pulled back which had he gone
down would surely have been a red card. However Lindfield stayed up and as he reached the
area shaped to go around him but saw his shot saved by Knight. The big defender also got
away with his earlier tug on Lindfield although a yellow card or at least a talking to was
merited.
The Reds were by far the better side now and surely a goal would come. On seventy
three minutes they very nearly did as well. Barragan again found space down the right hand
side. His cross was deflected up and towards the goal only for Knight to tip on to his
bar. The ball fell two yards out to Calliste who tapped the ball to the keeper when he
should have been bursting the net.
With the clock ticking down Ryan Flynn was sent on for the final five minutes in
place of Jack Hobbs. O'Donnell took the captains armband and the Reds went in search again
of the equalising goal. With the Reds pushing forward the were hit by the sucker punch
with a minute to go. Peltier lost the ball in midfield and Boro raced forward. The Reds
seemed to be all over the pace at the back at this point and Graeme Owens shot home past
Martin off the leg of O'Donnell.
With just a couple of added minutes the final whistle went and the Reds had lost
2-0. This was a very cruel defeat given all the effort from the Reds. Half of me looks
back at the game now and wonders why we never started with at least one true striker in
the first half. Anderson and Foy are not strikers but being asked to fill that void which
isn't fair, especially when you have two strikers on the bench.
NotM : Lee Peltier - had a sterling game in the centre
of midfield. The vote certainly wasn't swayed by the fact I was stood next to his dad
either. Danny Guthrie and Antonio Barragan also had excellent second halves to the game
but Peltier swings the vote for his performance over the full ninety.
 Liverpool Res 0, Middlesbrough
Res 2 Mar 29 2006, Daily Post
TWO deflected second-half goals condemned Liverpool reserves to a 2-0 defeat by
Middlesbrough in the Barclays FA Premier Reserve League North last night.
The game was played at the Liverpool Academy in Kirkby in a swirling wind which
made it difficult for both sides.
Liverpool began brightly and Paul Anderson put a shot over inside three minutes. A
minute later Antonio Barragan released Robbie Foy but the striker scuffed wide.
Anderson had a deflected shot saved by Knight, but they were the only moments of
excitement in a dull first half.
The second half saw Liverpool created numerous openings. The first saw Calum Woods
volley a cross from Ramon Calliste goalwards, but Knight made a routine stop.
Boro then went in front when Adam Johnson's shot took a wicked deflection off Miki
Roque, and Liverpool keeper David Martin slipped as he tried to change direction. The ball
trickled over the line as Martin desperately tried to reach it.
Barragan then shot wide after a brilliant run from the halfway line which saw him
ride four challenges. Daniel O'Donnell headed over from close range and Calliste and Foy
both had shots saved.
Liverpool substitute Craig Lindfield was sent clean through, but was denied by
Knight. Barragan then had a cross deflected off a defender and over the head of Knight,
but the ball hit the underside of the bar and just didn't fall properly for Calliste who
was following up.
It summed up Liverpool's night, when Boro scored again in the final minute, when
Owens' shot was deflected past Martin by the outstretched leg of O'Donnell.
LIVERPOOL: Martin, Barragan, Woods (Lindfield 69),
Antwi, O'Donnell, Roque, Peltier, Hobbs (Flynn 85), Anderson (Calliste 46), Guthrie, Foy.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Knight, Johnson, Taylor, Robson, Bates, Liddle, Owens, Williams
(Fisher 75), Craddock, Kennedy, Johnson.
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