Liverpool u18 1 Wolves u18 2 (Feb 25 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL U18 1 Wolves U18 2

Report by Peter Schulz at the Academy

Scorer(s) - Conal Platt Half Time - 0-1 Venue - The Academy Date - Sat 25 Feb 2006 Star Man - Paul Barratt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool’s Francis Smith was stretchered off in the U18s’ disappointing 1-2 defeat against Wolverhampton at the academy on Saturday. The result leaves Liverpool fifth in the table, eight points adrift of table-topping Blackburn Rovers.

Coach John Owens had to do without the services of youth cup hero Adam Hammill, but nevertheless fielded a strong line up as the side looked to bounce back from last week’s undeserved defeat against Manchester City.

Calum Woods skippered the side and played alongside Robbie Threlfall in the centre of defence. Stephen Darby and Jordan Holmes lined up either side of the pair. In midfield, Jimmy Ryan, who has suffered a dip in form recently, and Francis Smith played in the centre with Charlie Barnett and Paul Barratt on the wings. Ryan Wignall started up front alongside Michael Nardiello leaving hat-trick hero Craig Lindfield on the bench. Paul Lancaster returned from a long injury lay off to play in goal.

As per usual the wind was very strong and blowing along the pitch and it had a clear effect on the quality of the game. Liverpool played towards the goal away from the academy building with the wind in their backs and created a couple of early half chances through Ryan and Barratt. Neither forced a save from the Wolves keeper.

Wolves were struggling to keep the ball on the ground when attacking and every time it was lifted into the air it came straight back. Liverpool, however, were unable to capitalise on the advantage in the air.

On 16 minutes, Ryan Wignall nearly opened the scoring when he was very close to robbing the keeper on the edge of the box, but the ball was cleared. Wolverhampton forced Robbie Threlfall to clear a dangerous low cross from inside the six yard box.

Wolves went 1-0 up on 40 minutes when the ball was played down their right wing in the air. It was clear to everyone that the ball was out, but the linesman was concentrating on the offside situation so did not spot that the ball while in the air had curled at least half a yard out. When it bounced, it did so virtually on the line, but amazingly, the flag stayed down.

The ball was crossed in for Wolves left winger Liam Hughes, whose first effort was brilliantly blocked by Lancaster, but the ball fell to Hughes again and he made no mistake second time around. No doubt John Owens would say it was harsh on his side, but to be honest, they didn’t create anything.

He made no changes at half time despite the fact both Wignall and Nardiello had looked very disappointing up front. It took him 13 minutes of the second half to react, and not five, as suggested in his .tv comments on the game. I know because we had a stop watch, and the substitutions were made on exactly 57 minutes and 57 seconds!

To Owens’ credit he did identify the problem up front and took off both Wignall and Nardiello to be replaced by Conal Platt and Craig Lindfield. Charlie Barnett, who had also been poor by his own standards, was replaced by Ryan Flynn.

The reds were playing much better football now and keeping the ball on the ground much more than Wolves could in the first half. On 65 minutes, Wolves hard man Thomas France chopped down Francis Smith in the middle of the park and was promptly booked. But Smith didn’t get up, and was clearly in serious pain.

When the stretcher was unfolded on the side of the pitch, and one of those thingies to keep the leg in a still position while being moved was put on the midfielder’s leg, thoughts of Cisse, Alan Smith and Spearing crossed my mind. Fortunately, the injury is not as serious as first expected, and hopefully, Smith will be back in action shortly.

Conal Platt only needed 11 minutes on the pitch to make his presence felt. A Paul Barratt corner was headed back across goal by Woods, and Platt bundled it over the line from 3 yards for a deserved equaliser for 10-man Liverpool.

Although the reds now looked marginally the stronger side, it was only to last 9 minutes as a looping cross from the right again found Liam Hughes who slotted home from close range. Lancaster then made another good stop from Hughes two minutes later.

The reds put the visitors under pressure until the end, but apart from Jordan Holmes’ shot following Platt’s lay off and Barrat’s cross to Platt who missed the header, the reds did not threaten at all. Understandably so, as they were playing with ten men with a very strong wind in their faces.

It was a decent performance, especially in the second half, but a few players will be disappointed with their performance. Paul Barratt, however, will no doubt have been pleased with his performance. If not, he should be, because he was the best reds player on display. It’s good to see him back in form.


Team: Lancaster; Holmes, Woods, Threlfall, Darby; Barnett (Flynn), Smith, Ryan, Barratt; Nardiello (Lindfield), Wignall (Lindfield):