Liverpool u18 0 Derby County u18 1 (Mar 21 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL U18 0 Derby U18 1

Report by Dave Usher at the Academy

Scorer(s) - Half Time - 0-1 Venue - The Academy Date - Tue 21 Mar 2006 Star Man - Robbie Threlfall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for Liverpool’s u18 side, as they suffered a post youth cup hangover against Derby County at the Academy. Having reached the youth cup final for the first time in ten years after an emotionally draining shoot out win over Southampton, it was always going to be tough for John Owens’ side to get themselves ‘up’ for a routine Academy league match, and despite an improved second half showing they slumped to a 1-0 defeat.

Several of the lads who were involved at St Mary’s were in the squad against Derby, but only three of the regular youth cup side started this game. They were defenders Stephen Darby and Robbie Threlfall, and midfielder Charlie Barnett. Ryan Flynn, Paul Barratt and Craig Lindfield were on the bench, whilst Jimmy Ryan and Michael Nardiello – substitutes last Friday – were handed starts against the Rams.

Also into the side came 3rd year players Paul Lancaster, Conal Platt and Callum Woods, whilst Jordan Holmes, Michael Burns and Francis Smith made up the rest of the starting eleven. John Owens started with an unfamiliar 4-5-1 formation, with Nardiello as the lone frontman. When we attacked it was more of a 4-3-3 with Burns and Platt as the widemen in support of Nardiello.

Burns was prominent early on, and produced a number of good crosses from the left flank. From one of those Nardiello put a header over the bar, and the striker also saw another header miss the target after a lovely Charlie Barnett cross from the left. Both of those chances came in the opening fifteen minutes, but as the game progressed Derby began to settle and create some chances of their own. On 22 minutes the number ten put a shot over the bar when he should have scored, before Nardiello headed over once more, this time from a Barnett free kick.

Derby are a big side, and they’re a good side too. They’re joint top of their league, and it was easy to see why. Several of their players looked the part (I don’t know the names as I didn’t get a team sheet), and they were the better side in the first half.

With 25 minutes gone the number four burst through the Liverpool defence but was thwarted by a superb save by Lancaster. It was a warning which wasn’t heeded, as on the half hour mark the number ten smashed a shot past Lancaster from 12 yards out to give Derby a lead which the reds would prove decisive.

The boys had been a bit flat in the first half, understandable perhaps given the week they’d had, but they improved in the second half. Derby had the first chance of the half though, as Lancaster needed to make another good save to deny the lively number seven.

On 55 minutes Burns delivered a wonderful ball into the box which Nardiello was inches away from reaching, and four minutes later Ryan produced a stinging drive from the edge of the box which looked a goal all the way but went just the wrong side of the post.

On the hour mark Nardiello did well to create space for himself just inside the box, but dragged his shot wide. Two minutes later Owens made his first change, bringing off Platt and sending on youth cup goal hero Craig Lindfield.

On 75 minutes Ryan was unlucky when he sent a shot goalwards but it was deflected wide, and from the resulting corner Nardiello headed Barnett’s cross wide of the post.

A minute later Flynn and Barratt then came on for Burns and Nardiello, but despite some good runs down the left by Barratt the reds couldn’t find a breakthrough and could have fallen further behind when the number seven struck a shot just wide from the corner of the box.

The game ended in unsavoury fashion with some overly physical stuff from the visitors. Following a late tackle on Jordan Holmes (which wasn’t especially malicious in truth), their centre half took exception to the referee having a word with the player. “What about the ones the number six has been throwing in” he shouted.

This was a reference to some strong but fair challenges Franny Smith had made. A minute later, Smith went for a loose ball with the centre back. Smith went in cleanly and stayed on his feet, the centre back flew in two footed and Smith went down heavily. He got straight back up and much to his credit he didn’t make anything of it, but quickly slumped to the floor again as he realised he couldn’t put any weight on his foot.

After lengthy treatment Smith came back on, but spent the rest of the game limping. The defender was given a yellow card, but it could and maybe should have been red.

Liverpool possibly deserved a point, but can have few complaints overall because they just never really got going. Picking a star man wasn’t easy as I didn’t think anyone particularly stood out. Many of the lads played well below their usual standards, and it was only in defence where players were up to scratch. Threlfall was the pick for me, so he gets the star man.


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