| Saturday 11
February 2006 11:00 FA Premier Academy Group A Under 18s League |
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| "Liverpool" |
1 - 0 |
"Manchester
United" |
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(0-0) |
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| GOAL |
| Lindfield |
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Team: David Roberts, Jordan Holmes,
Callum Woods, 5. Robert Threlfall, Stephen Darby, Michael Burns, Ryan Flynn, Charlie
Barnett, Paul Barratt, Craig Lindfield, Ryan Wignall.
Subs: 15.
James Frayne, Michael Nardiello, Jimmy Ryan. |
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Team:
Subs: |
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| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Burns (Frayne), Lindfield
(Nardiello), Wignall (Ryan) |
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| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
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| VENUE |
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RESERVES
COACH |
at the Academy (capacity )
Attendance: |
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John Owens (Liverpool)
(Manchester United) |
Lindfield challenges for a headerl (photo
with site - http://liverpoolway.co.uk)o.uk)
Jordan Holmes (photo with site - http://liverpoolway.co.uk)o.uk)
Paul Barratt (photo with site - http://liverpoolway.co.uk)o.uk)
|
 LIVERPOOL U18 1 Man Utd U18 0
 Report by Dave Usher at the Academy
Scorer(s) - Craig Lindfield
Half Time - 0-0
Venue - The Academy
Date - Sat 11 Feb 2006
Star Man - Callum Woods
 Craig Lindfield’s second half header proved decisive as Liverpool
u18’s produced an impressive performance to overcome Manchester United 1-0 at the
Academy on Saturday morning. The reds were the better side and deserved their victory,
which keeps them in contention at the top of the Academy league.
John Owens made two changes to the side which had lost out to Blackburn last week,
with Ryan Flynn and Craig Lindfield coming in for James Frayne and Conal Platt. That meant
Ryan Wignall moving from the midfield berth he occupied last week to partner Lindfield in
attack.
I didn’t get a teamsheet, so I don’t know any of the United players, except for
the number seven who’s first name was Fabien. I’m assuming it was Fabien Brandy, a
name who will be well known to anyone who plays Football/Championship manager!
The reds flew out of the traps and immediately began to put pressure on the United
defence. Paul Barratt on the left flank was a real thorn in the mancs’ side, and drew a
couple of fouls early on as he ran at the full back.
Flynn was prominent early on too, and one of his trademark forward runs almost
resulted in an opening after just two minutes. He got in behind the defence down the right
hand side, and cut the ball back into the six yard box where Wignall and Lindfield were
waiting, but a defender cleared the danger.
Two minutes later Barratt got down the left in similar fashion, but once again a
defender was first to the ball and cleared his lines. On seven minutes Dave Roberts had to
make a good save from the pacy Brandy, but other than that the United dangerman was
handled very well by the Liverpool back four.
Barratt was the most potent attacking threat on the field in the opening exchanges,
and more good work from him created a good chance for Lindfield, but his shot was well
saved by the keeper.
Two minutes later the United number nine missed a sitter, when he dragged the ball
wide after it had rather fortunately landed at his feet in the six yard box. After that
the game became a bit tighter and most of the play was in midfield. The reds were forced
into a change after 33 minutes Michael Burns went off to replaced by Frayne.
Frayney is usually a striker, but rather than drop Wignall back into midfield and
let Frayne go up front, John Owens opted to use Frayne on the right, and he acquitted
himself very well out there.
Lindfield had another chance six minutes before the break, when Threlfall’s
superb ball over the top sent him clear. The ball sat up awkwardly for the striker but he
skilfully headed the ball into his own path and made good contact with his shot, but the
keeper saved fairly comfortably.
In first half stoppage time the reds gave the ball away cheaply in midfield and the
number nine had another great chance, but Roberts was alert to the danger and made another
good stop.
The first half had been relatively even, but Liverpool had just shaded it in terms
of possession. After the break however, the reds really stepped it up and took the lead
just two minutes into the 2nd half.
It was a fine goal too. Flynn played a good ball out to Frayne on the right, and he
laid the ball back to the supporting Jordan Holmes. The full back didn’t waste time
taking a touch, he just curled the ball into the box first time, where Lindfield met it
with a bullet header which flew past the keeper into the roof of the net, much tot he
striker’s delight.
The reds didn’t east off after taking the lead however, they continued to go
forward and create chances. Three minutes after his goal, Lindfield almost had another.
Frayne exchanged passes with Wignall down the right and then delivered a great cross in
towards Lindfield. His shot was again well struck, but the keeper made a superb save, and
also managed to keep out Wignall’s follow up effort which looked bound for the bottom
corner.
United were really having problems dealing with Lindfield, and the striker was
desperately unlucky not to find the net again on 67 minutes when he crashed a header
against the bar after another good cross from the right (not sure who played it in, either
Frayne or Holmes I assume).
Three minutes later Wignall had a shot saved after United failed to clear a corner,
but the reds couldn’t get the extra cushion of a second goal, and as the game wore on
United began to get back into it and apply some pressure of their own.
Roberts made a good stop from one of the United midfielders, and then Wignall
looked for a horrible moment as though he would put through his own net. United sent over
a corner, and it looped up to the back post where Wignall was covering. Normally you’d
have expected him to nod it behind for another corner or try to get it out of the danger
area, but he nodded it back to his own goal. Luckily Roberts was alert to what was
happening and collected it without any drama.
With 12 minutes remaining Owens made two more changes, bringing off Wignall and
Lindfield and sending on Jimmy Ryan and Michael Nardiello. That meant a reshuffle, with
Frayne going up front with Nardiello, and Barnett moving from the centre to the right to
accommodate Ryan.
Nardiello went close to scoring just five minutes after coming on. Callum Woods –
outstanding again – played a superb ball over the top of the full back to release
Barnett, who took the ball past his marker and cut it back from the byline to Nardiello.
The striker reached the ball before the defender and flicked the ball goalwards, but it
looked to clip the defender and trickle just wide. The referee awarded a goal kick
however.
United tried in vain to push forward for an equaliser, but the Liverpool back four
had few problems keeping them out. Both full backs were solid, Threlfall impressed too,
but for me Woods was again the star man. He won everything in the air, defended well and
his distribution with either foot was again eye catching.
It was a good all round team performance, and everyone played a part. Woods the
pick of the bunch, but Lindfield ran him very close. The result keeps the reds in
contention at the top of the Academy league, but it will also serve as a confidence
booster in case the sides meet in the youth cup.
Last week against Blackburn the lads just never got going. Today they showed what a
good side they can be. With the likes of Hobbs, Roque, Antwi, Anderson and Hammill to come
back for the youth cup, and a home draw with Carlisle in the next round, the reds have an
excellent chance of going all the way in the competition.
Team: Roberts; Holmes, Woods, Threlfall, Darby; Burns (Frayne), Flynn,
Barnett, Barratt; Lindfield (Nardiello), Wignall (Ryan).
For exclusive photo's from this game, click here |
