NEMETH DOUBLE EARNS DERBY DELIGHT

  Krisztian Nemeth hit another superb double as Liverpool Reserves ensured the Red half of Merseyside went home with the bragging rights courtesy of a 3-0 triumph in the Mini derby at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

  The Hungarian hot-shot followed up his brace at Manchester City last week, with two second-half goals to wrap up a comfortable victory after Blues defender Patrick Boyle put through his own net to give Liverpool the perfect start on 12 minutes.

  It meant Gary Ablett's side picked up their fourth win of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North campaign, a victory that will give them great confidence ahead of next Monday's top of the table clash against Middlesbrough.

  The Reds were welcomed on to the pitch by a bumper crowd and after Ronald Huth and Damien Plessis had gone close with half chances, Liverpool gave the home support something to cheer when they were gifted the advantage on 12 minutes.

  Nabil El Zhar made amends for what was a disappointing delivery from a corner when he brilliantly turned his man down the left and cut the ball back to Ronald Huth, whose low effort was powered into his own net by the hapless Boyle.

  The Reds continued to dominate possession throughout a first-half devoid of many clear cut chances, but it should have been two on 27 minutes when a wonderful cross field ball from Emiliano Insua found El Zhar in space on the right hand edge of the box, but the Moroccan flashed his shot just past the far post after he had deceived his marker with a clever turn.

  Krisztian Nemeth then had an opportunity to add to his two goals against Manchester City last time out, but he fired straight at John Ruddy when sent clear on the stroke of half-time.

  The visitors rarely threatened and their first-half display was summed up when James Vaughan was booked on 35 minutes after he talked his way into the referee's notebook for claiming his wild free-kick had taken a deflection.

  The second period began at a frantic pace and Jay Spearing was unlucky not to double the Reds' lead a minute after the restart when his 20 yard volley flew inches wide of the Everton goal.

  The away side responded and could have been level within seconds but James Vaughan shot wide from just outside the area after breaking clear of the otherwise excellent, Ronald Huth.

  A derby isn't a derby without some form of controversy and on 56 minutes the home side were left fuming after the referee refused to point to the spot after El Zhar was blatantly brought down by John Ruddy in the penalty area.

  It seemed to spur the Reds on and a minute later they were 2-0 up when Krisztian Nemeth grabbed his third goal in two reserve outings with a 20-yard shot into the far corner of the net.

  And on the hour mark he was at it again, this time volleying home at the far post after a corner from the right was touched into his path.

  With victory in the bag the Reds had the luxury of bringing on Francisco Duran on 76 minutes - the Spaniard's return to action a welcome sight following a nine month absence with a cruciate knee injury.

  Teams:

  Liverpool Reserves: Bouzanis, Kelly (Darby 61), Insua, San Jose, Huth, Plessis, El Zhar, Spearing (Duran 76), Brouwer (Pacheco 65), Nemeth, Leto. Subs not used: Gulacsi, Putterill.

  Everton Reserves: Ruddy, Densmore, Boyle, Irving, Rodwell, Harpur, Kissock, Vidarsson, Jutkiewicz (Morrison 73), Vaughan (Agard 58), Van der Meyde (O'Kane 67). Subs not used: Stubhaus, McCarten.

  Referee: Mr R J West.

  Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the match: Nabil El Zhar: A danger throughout and very unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after he was brought down in the box by Everton keeper John Ruddy.

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