Sheff Utd u18 1 Liverpool u18 3 - FA Youth Cup QF (Feb 15 2007)

[TLW]

Sheff Utd u18 1 LIVERPOOL U18 3

Report by Dave Usher at Bramall Lane

Scorer(s) - Ryan Flynn, Ray Putterill, Stephen Darby Half Time - 1-1 Venue - Bramall Lane Date - Thur 15 Feb 2007 Star Man - Ray Putterill

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goals from Ryan Flynn, Ray Putterill and a rare strike from Stephen Darby gave the reds a come from behind win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the quarter final of the FA Youth Cup last night. Steve Heighway’s side were full value for the victory, having dominated the game for long spells and produced some fantastic football, with left winger Putterill in scintillating form.


The Blades simply had no answer to the pace and skill of ‘Razor’ (pictured), who scored one and could have had at least a hat-trick. His performance was a joy to watch, but this was far from a one man show, as Liverpool had quality all over the pitch and the home side simply couldn’t match them.

Sheffield United had punched a bit above their weight to reach this far in the competition. Looking at the team sheet before the game, they had a list of their Academy fixtures and results so far this season. They were without a win in the Academy league since November 4th, and had lost their last fixture 6-0 at Derby County. The only wins they had were in the youth cup, where they had seen off Watford, Villa and Boro to reach the quarter finals.

With that in mind, I was pretty confident prior to kick off that the reds would be able to progress, especially when I saw the starting line up included Astrit Ajdarevic. The young Swede made a big impression in the last round when he appeared as a second half substitute, and the side looks better for his presence. He keeps hold of the ball, and rarely gives it away cheaply. He’s an elegant, classy player who will hopefully have a big future.

It won’t be as a striker though, that’s for sure. He lined up alongside Craig Lindfield at the start of this game, but he struggled to get into the game. He wasn’t bad, but the role doesn’t suit him at all. He was described as an attacking midfield player when we signed him, but from the little I’ve seen of him so far, he’s more of a midfield playmaker than a link man. He bears a remarkable resemblance to Paddy Berger, but he’s not the free spirit and devastating attacking force Paddy was.

When Astrit switched with Ryan Flynn, the change benefited both of them. Flynn has energy to burn and will run all day. Letting him work the channels whilst Ajdarevic sat in midfield keeping the play ticking over, really helped the reds and Sheffield simply couldn’t match up to them. Before that switch, the Blades were holding their own and had even taken the lead.

The goal was an avoidable one from Liverpool’s point of view. The home side had a free kick on the left wing, but it was a poor one and Spearing headed it away. It was collected thirty yards out by Blades’ right back Kyle Walker, and he was not closed down quickly enough and was allowed to advance forward a few yards before hitting a low shot into the bottom corner. It looked like it may have taken a slight deflection, but I could be wrong.

That goal came after 19 minutes, but I wasn’t overly concerned about it because the reds had already shown enough prior to that to suggest they had goals in them. Putterill had twice skinned United goalscorer Walker, and it was obvious the full back didn’t know how to cope with him. On one of those occasions Ray went on the outside and picked out Lindfield with a cross, but he was challenged as he controlled the ball and tried to get his shot away. The other occasion saw the winger beat his man on the inside and get a shot in from 18 yards that went inches wide.

It was obvious that the reds’ gameplan should be to simply get the ball to Putterill and let him do his stuff, and he saw plenty of the ball in the first half. I counted at least seven occasions that he went past his man and got dangerous crosses in, and not once did the full back manage to stop him. It was really impressive stuff from Ray, but he should have scored from one fantastic run when he went past a few defenders as he cut inside the penalty area. He’d done all the hard part and made a great angle for his shot, but he blasted the ball wide from 12 yards.

The equaliser was coming though, as Liverpool really built up a head of steam in the fifteen minutes before half time. The goal arrived five minutes before the break, when Barnett’s shot from 20 yards was tipped onto the post by the keeper, and the loose ball rolled across the goalmouth. Lindfield and Flynn were both in there following up, but it appeared the ball would elude both of them. Flynn did very well to adjust his footing and then slide in to hook the ball into the empty net.

The young Scot has made a habit of scoring goals in the youth cup, he scored some vital ones last season and this was another crucial strike. From the moment Liverpool got back on level terms there was only ever going to be one winner.

The second half saw the reds dominate possession, and create numerous good chances. The Blades had made a change at half time to try and nullify the rampant Putterill, withdrawing their goalscorer Walker and switching highly rated left back Chapman over to the right side to try and shore things up a bit. It didn’t work.

Putterill put the reds in front 12 minutes after the restart, and it was a goal of stunning quality. Ajdarevic featured prominently in the move, as he exchanged passes with Burns and Putterill as the trio advanced the ball up the left flank. By the time they reached the edge of the box, the Swede slipped a neat little pass into Putterill’s path, and ‘Razor’ cut inside two defenders before curling the ball into the top corner. It was a great team goal, but it was also a fine individual strike.

The reds – or yellows as they were on the night - were all over the home side now, and Putterill should have had his second when he met Darby’s excellent deep cross with a diving header. He didn’t get the greatest of connections on it, but it still needed a miraculous stop from the keeper to stop it going in. He did remarkably well to get the ball around the post and behind, but his good work amounted to nothing as from the corner Ajdarevic swung the ball in and Darby headed the ball in to make it 3-1.


Stephen Darby (pictured) goals are as rare a sight as Andy Johnson staying on his feet, so this was one to savour. If ever a player deserved a moment of glory though it’s ‘Darbs’. He’s been a model of consistency these last couple of years, and is rarely beaten defensively. He can play all across the back four, and always produces a high level of performance. He lifted the youth cup as skipper last season, and although he no longer has the armband (Spearing would have been skipper last season had he not been injured), he’s still leading by example. The man who does have the armband, continued his brilliant form in the centre of defence alongside the equally outstanding Robbie Threlfall. Throw in Michael Burns’ fine form at left back, and you have one of the main reasons that the lads now find themselves in the semi finals. The defence has been the foundation for this cup run, and all four of the lads have performed admirably. It’s difficult to single any of them out over the others, but special praise has to go to the two centre backs who have dominated whoever they have come up against.

When the lads won the trophy last season, everyone acknowledged that it would never have been possible without the inclusion of the Melwood lads, such as Hobbs, Antwi, Anderson and Roque. The physical presence of the two centre halves was especially significant, and Steve Heighway himself said as much.

This year though, there is no Hobbs, no Antwi, no Roque. The team is Heighway’s, pure and simple, and they are doing him proud. Spearing and Threlfall cannot match up with Hobbs and Antwi in terms of strength and physique, but in terms of reading the game, defensive quality and ability on the ball, Jay and Robbie compare favourably with any players I’ve seen at this level. The only way anyone is going to get the better of them is in the air, as no-one is going past either of them on the floor.

Threlfall would have been my star man in this game had it not been for the sheer brilliance of Putterill. Robbie won everything in the air, despite not being the biggest, simply because he was so determined to challenge for - and win - every ball. This was a defensive masterclass from the reds’ two centre backs.

They are well protected to be fair, as the midfield four work their socks off in front of them and you won’t find a more hard working striker than Lindfield. This team play for eachother, and that’s why they are having such a good run. There are no superstars, but they know how to play together and they will fancy their chances of beating Newcastle over two legs and reaching another final.

With the exceptions of Flynn, Ajdarevic and Hansen, this group have been together since they were nine years old. They have always been Heighway’s favourite group, and many of them were a part of the side that lifted the trophy last season. That was a year ahead of schedule for them, as this is the year they come of age, their graduation year if you like. It’s also going to be Heighway’s last year in charge at the Academy. It would be fairytale stuff if they could repeat last year’s success, but they’re certainly making a good fist of it.


Team: Hansen; Darby, Spearing, Threlfall, Burns; Ryan, Barnett, Flynn, Putterill; Ajdarevic, Lindfield (Wignall 70):