Liverpool Res 2 Wigan Res 0 (Mar 20 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 2 Wigan Res 0

Report by Dave Usher at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Robbie Fowler, Robbie Foy Half Time - 1-0 Venue - The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Date - Mon 20 Mar 2006 Star Man - Miki Roque

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robbie Fowler and Robbie Foy scored the goals as Liverpool reserves recorded an impressive 2-0 win over an experienced Wigan side at the Racecourse Ground. Fowler pounced in first half stoppage time to give Liverpool the lead, and Foy's second half strike wrapped up the win.

Fowler was a late inclusion in the side, having not been in the line up named earlier that day. Ramon Calliste was the unfortunate player to drop to the bench, whilst Charlie Barnett dropped out of the squad completely.

Paco Herrera named in his squad several of the lads who have helped the club reach their first FA Youth Cup final in ten years. Skipper Jack Hobbs lined up in midfield with Miki Roque, Godwin Antwi was in defence whilst Paul Anderson was on the right wing. Craig Lindfield and Ryan Flynn both came on as late substitutes.

Having had the last three or four games postponed, it had been a few weeks since the reserves had played, and it showed in a poor first half in which Wigan really should have scored at least twice.

The reds fielded a formation which can best be described as 4-2-3-1, with Hobbs and Roque holding in front of the defence, Foy and Anderson either side of Danny Guthrie and Fowler as a lone frontman.

Foy saw a lot of the ball early on, and he almost opened the scoring when he skipped inside a challenge on the edge of the box and drilled a low shot just past the post. It looked like it was going in, and Roque thought it had as he let out a loud "yeaaaah...ohhhhhh!!!" There were more players than fans inside the Racecourse Ground (especially as most of the youth cup squad were in the stands), and you could hear everything the players were shouting.

Hopefully this will be the last season we play at Wrexham, as its a pretty depressing venue due to the awful attendances. Somewhere closer to home would be nice for next season.

After a slow start Wigan began to impose themselves on the game, and only some terrible finishing by Andreas Johansson prevented them going in front. First he blazed over from about three yards after latching onto a cross-shot by David Connolly. Minutes later, it got worse for the Swede when he headed woefully wide from a couple of yards out after being picked out by a great right wing cross by David Owens.

It looked like we would be going into the break goalless, but the game sprung to life in first half stoppage time. Guthrie fed Foy, and the Scot showed great footwork to spin round with the ball and advance on goal. He went round a challenge on the edge of the box aand fired a shot towards the far corner. Gary Walsh tipped the ball around the post at full stretch.

From the resulting corner, Hobbs rose majestically and planted a header goalwards. Unfortunately it was straight at Walsh, who made a routine catch. Then inexplicably he dropped the ball between his own legs and Fowler stretched to get a stud on the ball and just about turn it over the goal-line.

It was Robbie's final contribution, as he was replaced by Calliste at the break.

The second half saw a much improved Liverpool display, with Guthrie and Foy prominent in a number of promising attacks. Guthrie was within a whisker of a stunning goal when he curled a 25 yard shot over the head of Walsh, but it dropped just the wrong side of the post.

Guthrie was finding space regularly now and shortly after he played a wonderful ball over the top of the centre back into the path of Foy in the inside left channel. Foy took a touch to control it before drilling a low shot past Walsh from a tight angle.

Liverpool were flying now, and shortly after Foy could have had a second. Roque was closed down in his own half, but showed great skill and awareness to turn away from two would be tacklers before picking out Foy with a perfect pass. This time the Scot elected not to take a touch, but the ball was bouncing and he couldn't keep his shot down.

Wigan offered very little in the second half but could have got back into the game when Mahon exchanged passes with Connolly and got a shot in, but the otherwise underworked David Martin made a stunning save away to his left.

The reds introduced Flynn for Roque late on, and the u18 midfielder made a very impressive cameo. He was involved straight away, and almost created a goal from Caliste with what may even have been his first touch. Walsh was stranded as Flynn went by him and cut the ball back to Calliste, but the Welsh u21 striker blazed his shot well over the bar.

Calliste repeated the trick a couple of minutes later, when Flynn sent Anderson away down the right and he crossed perfectly for the unmarked Calliste who once more couldn't keep his shot down.

The reds were well worth the win, and there were a number of fine performances. Martin did what he had to do when called upon, whilst all of the back were very solid. Hobbs and Roque impressed in midfield, whilst the two widemen caused Wigan plenty of problems. Guthrie hadn't been at his best in the first half but upped his game after the break, and substitute Flynn really caught the eye when he came on.

Any one of those could have been the star man, but I'm giving it Roque simply because he was outstanding in what is an unfamiliar position to him. He's been a terrific signing, as have Antwi, Hobbs and Anderson. Paco Herrera clearly has a real eye for a player, and hopefully he can be persuaded to stay on another year.


Team: Martin; Barragan, Antwi, O'Donnell, Smith; Hobbs, Roque (Flynn); Anderson, Guthrie (Lindfield), Foy; Fowler (Calliste):