Everton u16 0 Liverpool u16 1 (26 Feb 2005)

[TLW]

Everton U16 0 LIVERPOOL U16 1

Report by Dave Usher at the Everton Academy, Netherton

Scorer(s) - Jay Spearing Half Time - 0-0 Venue - The Everton Academy Date - Sat 26 Feb 2005 Star Man - Jay Spearing

 

 

 

 

 

Jay Spearing's second half strike was enough to give the reds u16 side the points in a tight game at Everton's Academy in Netherton on Saturday morning. The Liverpool skipper headed home a left wing corner from Michael Burns after 52 minutes to settle a game of few chances.

Dave Shannon made one change to the side which had been held at home by Blackburn last week, bringing back fit again midfielder Charlie Barnett at the expense of striker Jonathon Pringle. That meant Ryan Wignall switching from midfield to attack to partner Craig Lindfield.

Lindfield had the best effort of the first half when he turned and crashed a shot against the bar with the blues keeper well beaten. The blues also hit the bar in the opening period, when their centre forward lobbed the advancing Dave Roberts. It looked a goal all the way, but thankfully it didn't come down quick enough and bounced off the woodwork.

Both defences were largely on top, with Threlfall and Spearing both in excellent form for the reds. It was largely a midfield battle, with Jimmy Ryan and Barnett just about coming out on top. The blues had the highly promising John Paul Kissock in midfield, and he's a handful, but Barnett stuck close to him and made several timely challenges to dispossess the blues dangerman.

Ryan dictated the play in his usual classy style, but the blues were defending well and chances were at a premium. The reds were the better side, and after the break made most of the play. It was always going to take something special to break the deadlock, but the goal came from the most unlikely of sources.

When Burns swung over a corner from the right 12 minutes into the second half, all the big lads were in the box. Yet rising above everyone was the little shaven head of the smallest lad on the field, Liverpool skipper Spearing. He met the ball perfecdtly and planted a header into the bottom corner, much to the delight (and amusement) of himself, his team-mates and the watching reds.

Jay is an excellent player, and his lack of height hasn't prevented him from impressing at centre back in recent weeks. It's not his usual position, as he'd played right back for most of the season, and was used in centre midfield in the youth cup. He reads the game well, is an excellent footballer and a fantastic leader. He never shuts up, and is always offering encouragement and instructions to his team-mates. He's a great captain.

Shannon made a change seven minutes later, sending on Pringle for Wignall, and seconds later Lindfield had a chance to double the lead. The striker escaped the blues defence and with the keeper running out to close him down he lofted the ball towards goal but failed to direct it on target, and it drifted wide.

The blues pushed looking for an equaliser, but never looked like testing Roberts, as they couldn't find a way through Spearing and Threlfall. It wasn't a fluent game by any means, but the reds were the more accomplished footballing side and dictated a lot of the play, even if they didn't create too much.

The back four were all excellent, and Ryan and Barnett competed well in the middle of the park. I'm giving Spearing the star man, just ahead of his defensive partner Threlfall.


Team: Roberts; Darby, Spearing, Threlfall, Behan; Woodward, Ryan, Barnett, Burns; Linfield, Wignall (Pringle):

Email me at dave@liverpoolway.co.uk

For exclusive Photo's from this game, click here