Liverpool u18 3 Crewe u18 1 (Oct 22 2005)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL U18 3 CreweU18 1

Report by Dave Usher at the Academy

Scorer(s) - Charlie Barnett, Craig Lindfield, Conal Platt Half Time - 1-0 Venue - The Academy Date - Sat 22 Oct 2005 Star Man - Conal Platt

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool’s under 18 side closed the gap at the top of the table to one point with a hard fought victory over Crewe Alexandra at the Academy. The reds went into the game three points behind Blackburn Rovers, who were held to a draw by Manchester United, but goals from Charlie Barnett, Craig Lindfield and Conal Platt saw off a spirited Crewe team, who came desperately close to snatching a point.

With the score 2-1 in Liverpool’s favour and ninety minutes almost up, Crewe hit the post following a corner. The reds cleared the ball and broke upfield, and Platt produced a wonderful curling shot into the top corner to make the game safe and give the scoreline a more accurrate look.

Crewe had their chances and played pretty well, but Liverpool were the better side throughout and were worthy winners. John Owens’ side are the top scorers in their league with 26 goals so far. That’s six more than anyone else, and the good thing is they’ve been spread throught the squad. There’s no over reliance on any one player to get the goals, and such is the de3pth to the squad that Owens can rotate his players without any problems.

For this game he was without the injured Spearing, Threlfall, Roberts, Flynn and Frayne. Hammill, Nardiello and Peltier were also missing as they are set to play for the reserves next week. Despite all the absentees, Owens was able to field a well balanced side and still had plenty of options on the bench.

Francis Smith started at right back, Stephen Behan came in for a rare start at left back, meaning the versatile Steven Darby switched to centre back alongside skipper Callum Woods. Barnett was back after missing last weeks draw with Bolton, and Michael Burns was given a run out on the left wing. Paul Barratt partnered Jimmy Ryan in the centre whilst Platt and Lindfield were the strikers.

Crewe should have gone in front in the second minute, when left sided player Dillon was sent clear on goal but put his shot wide. The miss proved costly, as two minutes later Platt found Barnett on the right edge of the area, and the midfielder rifled a shot across the keeper into the far corner. It was a terrific finish, but no more than you’d expect from Charlie who is very clean striker of a ball.

Crewe could have hit back instantly, when impressive striker Maynard escaped the attention of Behan and drove the ball across the face of goal. All it needed was a touch, but Dillon just couldn’t get there and the ball rolled harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

It really was an eventful start to the game, and it was end to end stuff. On eight minutes Platt once again found Barnett on the right. Charlie carried the ball thirty yards before unleashing a stinging drive from the corner of the box which came back out off the angle of post and bar.

A minute later and it was the visitors turn to threaten again. Maynard’s lovely back flick sent strike partner Warlow through, but Smith got back to make a superb tackle and ensure Lancaster wasn’t threatened.

Seconds later the action was back down the other end. Barratt found Burns who’d drifted over to the right flank, and although his cross seemed to have gone behind everyone, Lindfield did well to move back and somehow direct the ball goalwards. It was just too high, but the striker did well to fashion any kind of attempt as the defender seemed to have the situation well under control.

All this had occurred in the opening ten minutes, but things settled down after that and there was very little goalmouth action until Smith had a shot from distance which was comfortably saved by the keeper on the half hour mark. A minute later it was Lancaster who was called into action when Maynard got clear. The striker was looking to lob the bouncing ball over the keeper, but Lancaster was out of his goal so quickly he smothered the attempt at the danger was averted. Excellent goalkeeping.

Maynard was very lively, and caused the reds a lot of problems. Woods and Darby were both excellent, and they needed to be as the Crewe striker is a handful. Maynard made space for himself again five minutes before half time, and cut the ball back to Warlow, but Darby made a brilliant block to prevent the striker getting his shot in.

I really like Darby, he’s a really dependable player who does a solid job in whatever position he plays. He’s an infectious character who never stops encouraging his team-mates, and he’s an excellent competitor.

The reds put together some fine moves in the first half, and the intelligent Platt was usually at the heart of them. With 3 minutes to go before the break, Platt’s precise through ball sent Burns clear down the left. The former England schoolboy international whipped in a teasing cross towards Lindfield, but it was a fraction too high and the striker just couldn’t connect.

Smith was forced off through injury just before the break, replaced by Jordan Holmes. Holmes is an England youth international, and a good solid full back, so the change didn’t weaken the side in any way.

The second half started in much the same way the first had, and chances continued to flow for both sides. In the first minute of the half Platt won a good header to direct the ball to Lindfield on the right. He slipped the ball inside to Barnett, who hit a terrific shot from 25 yards which flew just wide. The impressive thing about the strike was that he didn’t have to line it up and get his body in the right shape to shoot, it was a snapshot with very little backlift.

Four minutes later Behan played a long ball forward which was brought down expertly by Platt. He waited for support before laying the ball back to Burns who whipped in another fine cross towards Lindfield. This time the striker did manage to reach it but couldn’t direct his header goalwards and the ball drifted wide.

Maynard was still looking dangerous, and on 52 minutes he made a clever diagonal run across and behind the Liverpool backline. The ball was layed through to him and he was once again faced by Lancaster. Once again Lancaster came out on top, making a smart save with his feet.

Lindfield then had a header well saved following a right wing corner, and five minutes later Ryan dissected the Crewe defence with a great ball to Barnett in the inside left channel. Given Barnett’s usual quality in front of goal, it was a surprise when he failed to find the back of the net, although credit goes to the keeper for making a good stop.

Two minutes later and Lancaster had to make another good save, this time diving full length to his right to turn the ball around the post.

On 64 minutes Owens made his second change, introudcing Ray Putterill for Paul Barratt. The change saw Barnett move into centre midfield with Ryan, and Putterill went to the right flank. The change paid immediate dividends, as within seconds of coming onto the field Putterill had created a goal with his first touch.

Collecting the ball on the right he swung over a delicious cross which just eluded Platt, but was met on the back post by the sliding Lindfield who turned it in from close range. It was no more than the reds deserved, as they’d been pushing for that second goal and had shown no inclination to simply protect what they had.

Even at 2-0 they kept attacking, but a sloppy pass from Ryan gave the ball to Maynard on halfway, and the striker ran clear of Woods and this time managed to beat Lancaster to claim the goal his performance had deserved. That goal understandably gave the visitors hope, and made the reds somewhat anxious. Owens withdrew Lindfield and sent on Ryan Wignall to play up front with Platt, and the fresh legs certainly helped.

Liverpool continued to look the more likely scorers, and Platt had a good opening on the edge of the area but didn’t get enough power in his shot and the keeper made an easy save. With three minutes left Ryan played a lovely disguised ball in behind the left back for Holmes to run onto. Holmes looked up and cut the ball back to Putterill but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Then with a minute remaining came the passage of play which could have ended with Crewe snatching a draw, but instead saw Platt put the game beyond them with a sublime strike.

Crewe had looked dangerous from set pieces all day, with midfielder Murphy delivering some wonderful dead balls into the danger area. Every set piece he played in was right on the money, and with less than 60 seconds remaining he swung over another fine ball which was met at the back post, I think by the centre half Kerr, but his effort from close range bounced back off the post.

The reds scrambled it clear, and Burns swept the ball across the field to Putterill. He slipped the ball to Platt, who made space for himself on the edge of the box and then precisely curled the ball into the top corner with his left foot. Platt was already my star man regardless of the goal, but that just capped an excellent display from him.

In stoppage time Platt and Putterill combined once more to play in Burns, but his shot was well saved by the Crewe keeper.

Overall, a good performance and a well deserved victory. Platt was the pick of the bunch, but there were a lot of good performances. In fact, everyone played well and its hard singling people out, so I won’t.


Team: Lancaster; Smith (Holmes), Darby, Woods, Behan; Barnett, Barratt (Putterill), Ryan, Burns; Platt, Lindfield (Wignall):