Liverpool Res 2 Newcastle Res 2 (Aug 22 2005)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 2 Newcastle Res 2

Report by Dave Usher at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Ramon Calliste Half Time - 1-1 Venue - The Racecourse Ground Date - Mon 22 Aug 2005 Star Man - Danny Guthrie

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool Reserves were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle last night, despite twice going in front through goals from Florent Sinama-Pongolle and triallist Ramon Calliste. Pongolle came through 45 minutes with no ill effects, whilst Djimi Traore was given a 35 minute run out as he began his comeback from injury.

Liverpool reserve coach Paco Herrera gave a debut to summer signing Miki Roque, but was without Antonio Barragan who had originally been lined up to play on the right of midfield but was given a late call up to the first team squad to play Sofia tonight.

John Welsh was another absentee, having joined Hull on a year's loan earlier in the day, whilst Darren Potter and Zak Whitbread were also missing having joined Barragan in the senior squad. Forgotten man Salif Diao was given a rare outing in central midfield alongside Jack Hobbs, with David Mannix dropping to the bench.

With the reserve squad desperately short of recognised strikers, Herrera took the opportunity to have a look at Calliste, a young Welsh striker who was released by the mancs last season. He caught the eye in the early stages with some good hold up play, plenty of nice touches and a good work ethic. He tired in the second half, but scored a good goal and definitely looks like he could do a job.

The reds began the game very well, with Traore raiding forward from left back regularly. In the second minute he beat his man with the trademark 'Djimi turn' before delivering an excellent cross which Adam Hammill glanced just wide. From where I was sat the ball looked like it had gone in, and I'm still not convinced it didn't. It was headed towards the bottom corner, and seemed to go through the net. I couldn't believe it when the ball ended up behind the goal. Hammill thought he'd scored too, and put his head in his hands when he realised he'd been denied.

Hammill was giving the Geordie right back a torrid time, and even when they doubled up on him they still couldn't contain him. The lad has more tricks than a magicians convention, and if his final ball and awareness improves he could be a top player.

On the other flank Guthrie was just as influential, although in a different way. Danny is not a dribbler like Hammill, but he's an intelligent, creative player and his link up play with Pongolle and Calliste was a feature of an entertaining first half.

Flo looked in great form last week when he came on against Everton, and he began this game where he left off against the blues. His pace, close control and awareness was too much for the young Newcastle defenders, and it was no surprise when he opened the scoring after just 13 minutes.

The goal owed much to the great work in midfield of Hobbs. The 17 year old won the ball, sidestepped a challenge and threaded a ball through for Flo, who calmly took the ball around the keeper and rolled it into the empty net.

Last week Hobbs looked like a defender playing out of position. This week he looked much more comfortable, and the presence and experience of Diao alongside him certainly helped. Diao was poor in the opening twenty minutes or so, but he improved as the game went on and had a very steady game overall. He did nothing fancy - aside from a 'stepover' quickly followed by a 'fallover' in the first half! - but kept possession well and won the ball back countless times.

There have been times when Diao's attitude towards these games hasn't been the best, but this wasn't one of those times. He was a calming influence for the young players around him, and he allowed the likes of Guthrie and Hammill to do their stuff further forward.

Guthrie almost made it 2-0 on twenty minutes with a surging run and stinging drive which United keeper Caig somehow kept out. It was a wonderful save to be fair, as he flung himself to his right and somehow diverted the ball over the bar. Guthrie tried his luck from distance again just before half time, and this time he beat Caig but just cleared the crossbar.

Hammill also threatened from long range, as Liverpool dominated the opening exchanges. Calliste was getting himself involved , and should have scored when he chested down Guthrie's excellent pass but missed his kick from six yards as he fell backwards.

Newcastle should have levelled when Finnigan put a free header wide after a good cross by the left winger, who looked useful. The battle between him and Raven was an interesting one, and the reds captain did well to keep him as quiet as he did.

Newcastle managed to draw level just before the break, when Raven stretched to cut out a through ball, and diverted the ball past Miki Roque who had come out of the defensive line to try and cut out the original pass. Finnigan ran clear and cut the ball back for one of his midfielders, who's shot was well stopped by Willis. The rebound was snapped up by Atkin and we went in at the break all square.

At the break Godwin Antwi replaced Flo. James Smith had replaced Traore ten minutes before the break.

The goal clearly lifted the visitors, and they made a good start to the second half. Five minutes in, Smylie struck the angle of post and bar with a curling free-kick which had beaten Willis all ends up. Liverpool quickly regained the initiative though, and Hobbs saw a header cleared off the line after climbing well to meet Guthrie's corner.

Herrera made a tactical change early in the second half, moving Guthrie in from the flank to play behind the front two. It worked a treat, as Danny was able to link up more with Hammill, and the two gave Newcastle all kinds of trouble.

Twenty minutes into the second half the reds regained the lead, when Guthrie split the defence open and released Calliste. The striker kept his composure and side footed the ball past Caig into the bottom corner. Every outfield player ran over to congratulate him, suggesting his team-mates were happy with his contribution and pleased for him. He is expected to play in next weeks game with West Brom before a decision is taken on his future, but he did himself no harm in this game, that's for sure.

Two minutes later there was a scramble in the Liverpool box after the defence failed to deal with a set piece, and Willis had to tip the ball onto a post after Kris Gate smashed a shot goalwards. It was a great save by the Northern Irish lad.

Sadly, Willis was powerless to stop Gate levelling the scores with ten minutes remaining. Collecting the ball on the left corner of the box, the midfielder sent a viscious dipping shot into the far top corner. It was a great goal, and Willis had no chance.

It was harsh on the reds, who did more than enough to win the game and played some encouragingly good football. Even after the goal they still could have won it, when Diao and Hobbs took a clever free-kick and released Hammill. He tried to place the ball wide of Caig, but the keeper got a hand on it and palmed the ball across the face of goal and wide.

So the ressies are without a win so far this season, but they are playing some good football at times, and the team is taking shape. Players like Guthrie and Hammill are establishing themselves in the side now, whilst the new recruits are doing well.

Miki Roque was very impressive at the back, and can be very pleased with his debut. He defended well, and looks good in possession. Alongside him, O'Donnell was solid, and Raven played well at right back. Nobody had a bad game in fact, and all eleven players plus the subs did well.

Guthrie just about shades the star man award from Adam Hammill, if only for the fact that his end product, be it shooting or passing, was better. Hammill is a joy to watch though when he's in this kind of mood.

Team: Willis; Raven, Roque, O'Donnell, Traore (Smith); Guthrie, Diao, Hobbs, Hammill; Sinama-Pongolle (Godwin Antwi), Calliste (Mannix):

For exclusive photos from this game, click here