Newcastle u18 2 Liverpool u18 4 - FA Youth Cup SF 1st leg (Mar 11 2007)

[TLW]

Newcastle u18 2 LIVERPOOL U18 4

Report by Dave Usher at St James' Park

Scorer(s) - Ryan Flynn (2), Charlie Barnett, Craig Lindfield Half Time - 0-2 Venue - St James Park, Newcastle Date - Sat 11 Mar 2007 Star Man - Jimmy Ryan

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reds youngsters are on the verge of a place in the final of the FA Youth Cup after an impressive 4-2 away win over Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon. Goals from Charlie Barnett, Craig Lindfield and a 2nd half brace from Ryan Flynn have put Steve Heighway’s lads in a commanding position ahead of the 2nd leg at Anfield next week.


Heighway sprung a surprise with his team selection for the game, drafting in u16 midfielder Steve Irwin (right) in place of the suspended Ray Putterill. There were u18 squad members who could have filled in, so it says a lot about how highly regarded Irwin is that he was brought in for a game of this magnitude, especially as he was played out of position on the left flank.

Two of his u16 colleagues, Nathan Ecclestone and Sean Highdale, were amongst the substitutes. Aside from that one enforced change, Heighway’s starting eleven was the same as the one that had performed so impressively at Bramall Lane in the last round. The only slight alteration to the line up saw Astrit Ajdarevic and Ryan Flynn switch positions. At Sheffield, Ajdarevic had started the game playing just off the frontman, with Flynn in centre midfield, but they had swiched during the game to good effect, and Heighway elected to start this game with Flynn in the more advanced role.

Liverpool took the initiative from the opening kick off, and the home side looked very edgy, especially at the back where the workrate of the reds forwards put them under a lot of pressure. Their back four and keeper were at sixes and sevens, and I lost count of how many times they panicked and put the ball into touch when there was no need.

The young reds created chance after chance in the opening 20 minutes, and the only surprise was it took so long for them to finally score. They set out their intentions as early as the third minute, when left back Michael Burns made a good interception in his own half and then bombed forward, exchanging passes with Ajdarevic before winning a corner.


Barnett whipped over the corner, Irwin flicked it on at the near post and an unmarked Ajdarevic should have done better with a header he sent looping over the bar from seven yards. The Swede has a lot more in common with Patrik Berger than just looks… Paddy couldn’t head a ball either.

Liverpool were pressing high up the pitch, which no doubt contributed to the home side’s edginess at the back, and after five minutes Lindfield robbed a defender and found the ever willing Flynn who had made a run in behind the defence. He laid the ball back to Jimmy Ryan on the corner of the box, and initially it looked like he was going cross the ball to the back post, but when he put the ball in it almost beat the keeper on his near post. It could have been a mis-hit cross, but I think it may well have been a clever shot.

Five minutes later Ryan was in a similar position, but this time he whipped a great ball into Lindfield by the penalty spot, but his header went well wide. Jimmy was the most influential player on the field at the stage, and on 19 minutes he forced the keeper into another great save with a powerful drive from 25 yards after collecting a nicely disguised pass by Irwin.

It took 23 minutes for Newcastle to mount any kind of attack. Right winger Godsmark got away from Burns and put in a dangerous cross, but Threlfall was there to head clear with Toon dangerman Andy Carroll waiting to pounce.


It proved a vital clearance, as a minute later Liverpool took the lead. Once more they pressed the ball in the Newcastle half, and Barnett won possession in the centre circle. He advanced forward, and had options either side of him in Lindfield and Flynn. I think most people were expecting him to slide a ball through to either of the frontmen, but from 35 yards out he unleashed a venomous drive that seemed to take the keeper by surprise somewhat. He got a hand on the ball, but such was the power of the shot he could only help it into the corner of the net.

Charlie was mobbed by his delighted team-mates, and rightly so as it was a hell of a strike. The midfielder is usually the one creating goals, so it was nice for him to be the one getting the glory for a change.


Liverpool were well on top, and it was clear that there were goals in this for the reds if they wanted them. Newcastle were being forced into mistake after mistake, and on 36 minutes the 2nd goal came. Lindfield once again won back possession, and the ball arrived at the feet of Ajdarevic. He carried it forward, before sliding a delightful pass into the path of the striker who took it in his stride and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.


Craig was scoring goals for fun in last years youth cup, but this year it has been harder for him. He hasn’t been missing chances, they just haven’t been coming his way. The chances have all been falling to his team-mates, but now that he’s off the mark expect more to come.

Newcastle rallied after that goal, and were inches away from pulling a goal back five minutes before the break, when a long ball into the Liverpool box caused confusion. Keeper Martin Hansen came out to collect it, but Steven Darby tried to head it clear and it brushed off his head and over the keeper, but fortunately went just wide of the post.

Two minutes later the dangerous Carroll turned well in the box and fired in a low shot. Hansen saved well with his foot, and skipper Jay Spearing cleared Bertram’s follow up effort off the line before Donaldson sent a looping shot narrowly past the far post.

The reds had been in control for most of the half and looked a class above Newcastle, but the warning signs were there at the end of the half. Newcastle had been outplayed, but they had a big physical advantage over the Liverpool backline through the height of Carroll. He was a real handful in the air as he towered above the reds’ defence, but he was good on the floor too. Kazenga Lua Lua also caused a few problems with his unpredictable skill, but those two apart Newcastle looked very average.


Ryan (left) had been the best player on the field in the 1st half, and the watching Peter Beardsley was waxing lyrical about Jimmy on Newcastle radio. He was sat directly behind us and I could hear him singing Jimmy’s praises. Beardsley graced the Liverpool number seven shirt that Ryan was wearing, so that was high praise indeed for Jimmy.

The midfielder’s influence on the game would lessen as the game wore on, but he was still heavily involved at the start of the 2nd half. Two minutes after the restart he brought another good save from the keeper with yet another well struck shot from outside the box.

Newcastle then wasted a great chance to pull a goal back three minutes later, when Lua Lua took advantage of a fortunate ricochet and ran clear. Hansen made a fine stop with his foot to deny him, but the ball rolled across the six yard box to Donaldson, who somehow put the ball wide. He was under heavy pressure from Darby, but still should have scored and it was a bad miss.

Three minutes later Newcastle’s keeper made a poor clearance that fell to Ryan forty yards out. He juggled the ball a few times as he moved forward, and then hit a volley from 30 yards that was easily stopped by the keeper who had recovered his position well.

The reds went 3-0 up on the hour mark, when Newcastle failed to deal with a corner from Ajdarevic. Lindfield saw a shot blocked, but the ball fell to Barnett on the edge of the box. He sidestepped a challenge and blasted the ball towards the corner. It beat the keeper, but a defender blocked it on the line. Flynn was on hand to react quickest and poke the ball in from close range.

Two minutes later Newcastle were back in it. Ryan was harshly adjudged to have handled by the touchline (it was smashed at him from point blank range and hit his arm), and when the ball was punted into the box Carroll outjumped Threlfall and Hansen to head the ball into an empty net.


Carroll was winning everything in the air, and Newcastle were always looking to find him on the back post for every set piece, where he could knock the ball back across goal. He’d done this a few times in the first half, but Liverpool had managed to win the 2nd ball. After the goal the home sides had their tails up though, and three minutes later another set piece saw Carroll knock the ball back across the box to centre half Francis. His goalbound shot struck one of his team-mates however, and the defender’s bad luck was about to get even worse six minutes later.

Dealing with a bouncing ball in his own half, Francis was under pressure from two Liverpool players. He saw the first, but was unaware that Flynn was behind him and anticipating what he was going to do. It was obvious to everyone in the ground he would try and head the ball back to his keeper, and it was obvious he hadn’t seen Flynn lurking behind him. What followed was very predictable. Flynn latched onto the header, and with the keeper advancing he calmy lofted the ball over his head into the net. Flynny is an excellent finisher and has made a habit of scoring goals in the youth cup. There was no way he was ever going waste and opportunity like that.

4-1 was a fair reflection on the game at this stage, but Ajdarevic almost made it 5-1 a minute later. Once more, Francis gave possession away on the edge of his own box, and the Swede jinked away from a challenge and fired in a low shot with his right foot that the keeper turned around the post at full stretch.

Three minutes later though Newcastle had the lead back down to two goals. A right wing free-kick caused confusion in the Liverpool box, and Ryan diverted the ball past Hansen for an unfortunate own goal.

Liverpool were in real danger of throwing away all of their good work now, as Newcastle’s route one approach was paying dividends. I’ve said it before, but the only real weakness this Liverpool back four has is a serious lack of height. Set pieces are a problem sometimes, so it’s vital that they don’t concede silly free kicks around the box. From open play teams rarely look like breaching what is a fantastic back four, but the lads always look vulnerable when teams get set pieces around the box.

Heighway made just the one change, replacing Irwin with his u16 team-mate Highdale. Irwin did a steady job, but it was never going to be easy for a right footed central midfield player to replace the exciting Putterill on the left flank. He did a good job for the side, and is clearly a player of promise. Highdale sat in front of the back four, with Flynn moving to the left side of a 4-1-4-1 formation as the reds looked to hold what they had.


Thankfully the rest of the game passed without too many scares, although Donaldosn blazed over in stoppage time from close range after latching onto yet another knock down by Carroll.

Overall, it was a good performance from the lads, but they can play even better than this. Having Putterill back will make a difference, as ‘Razor’ has been brilliant in the youth cup run this season. I didn’t see anything in Newcastle to suggest the 2nd leg will be a problem, although I can see them scoring at least one. Defensively they were very poor however, and if Liverpool attack them they should have too much for the Geordies.

With either Arsenal or the mancs awaiting in a two legged final, retaining the trophy the lads won last season won’t be easy, but the spirit amongst the lads is fantastic and they are playing some excellent football. Heighway will have to ensure complacency doesn’t creep in ahead of the 2nd leg however, and will no doubt be reminding the lads how they almost blew a 3-0 first leg lead in last year’s final.

Picking the star man was really difficult, as it was a fine team performance and everyone played well. Lindfield was excellent up front and fully deserved his goal. His work rate and link up play provided the platform on which this performance was built. Alongside him, Flynn’s predatory instincts and strong running again caught the eye, whilst Barnett and Ajdarevic bossed the midfield. The back four were excellent as always, with special mention going to Threlfall who had been up most of the previous night feeling ill. He was shattered afterwards, and will not have had a tougher game all season, especially as he had the unenviable task of marking beanpole striker Carroll.

I’m giving the star man to Ryan though, as for an hour or so he was terrific. At the start of this youth cup run, I was very surprised that Heighway was using Ryan on the right as he has always looked like one of those centre midfielders who could only play in that position. A Jamie Redknapp type player if you like.

I couldn’t understand why Barnett wasn’t used out there, with Jimmy in the centre. Heighway knew what he was doing though, and Jimmy has been a revelation out there, he’s really grown into the role. He’s one of the players that will be hoping to move to Melwood at the end of the season, and he can’t really do much more than he is doing at the moment.

If the lads can avoid any embarrassing slip up in the 2nd leg, then they will get the chance to strut their stuff in front a live tv audience and experience playing at either Old Trafford or the Emirates Stadium. As for Heighway, well his dream of going out in a blaze of glory with two successive youth cup triumphs is still alive and kicking.

Team: Hansen; Darby, Spearing, Threlfall, Burns; Ryan, Barnett, Ajdarevic, Irwin (Highdale); Flynn, Lindfield: