Under 18's Beaten In Mini Derby

[Allan]

From the offal:

 

Liverpool under-18s were left disappointed after an Everton late show condemned them to a 2-0 defeat in the mini derby on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds struggled to recapture the attacking potency that saw them destroy leaders Blackburn last time out and went down to goals from Danny Murphy and Conor McAleny.

 

A match of little goalmouth action saw Everton have the first sight of goal when Hallam Hope arced an ambitious 30 yard volley over the top inside the opening minute.

 

If the supporters who had gathered at the Reds' youth base in Kirkby thought it was the sign of things to come, then it proved to be a false dawn, with the remainder of the match settling into a midfield battle you would associate with a typical derby.

 

The only real chance of the first period fell to the hosts on 18 minutes when Marcus Giglio contrived to glance a free header into the side netting after a right-wing corner was misread by the Everton rearguard.

 

With honours even at half-time, Rodolfo Borrell may have been pleased with the organisation of his side, but would have been hoping for more in the attacking third following the interval.

 

However, it was Everton who again made the brighter start, with Tom Donegan thrashing a wild effort over the bar after breaking through the midfield, before Hope went one better by thumping a terrible 25 yard volley way off target.

 

With the likes of Tom Ince, Krisztian Adorjan and James Ellison all struggling to make an impact, it was left to the unlikely source of Andre Wisdom to have the Reds' next attempt, when he blazed just past the upright after finding space inside the penalty area.

 

It could have been a costly miss too, as the Blues broke forward and manufactured a gilt-edged chance on 60 minutes.

 

Femi Orenuga teased Giglio on the right before sending a devilish cross into the six yard box that Lewis Codling could only steer against Chris Oldfield from point blank range.

 

Next, Adam Cummins was left holding his head in his hands after he headed straight at Oldfield from a well worked set piece before Ince almost put the home side in front when he turned in the area and fired in a low shot that Adam Davies got down well to keep out.

 

With time running out, the match seemed destined to end in stalemate until the away side struck the all-important opener eight minutes from the end.

 

A corner from the left was only half-punched clear by Oldfield, allowing Murphy to stab home from eight yards out.

 

And just two minutes later they made the game safe when McAleny found space on the left edge of the Liverpool area before arrowing a low drive in at the near post.

 

Liverpool under-18s: Chris Oldfield, John Flanagan, Marcus Giglio, Stephen Sama, Matty McGiveron, Craig Roddan, Andre Wisdom, Michael Roberts, James Ellison (Michael Ngoo 84), Krisztian Adorjan (Tony Silva 86), Tom Ince. Unused subs: Michael Ihiekwe, Deale Chamberlain, Adam Pepper.

[SpeedyG]

BTW I noticed Coady and Jack Robinson were playing for the England U17s today, so both them and Pepper weren't playing.

[Liverweb]

report from my perspective at the academy

 

The Reds lost the youth derby after Everton scored two late goals to take the three points. In fairness the Reds created very little and Everton just seemed to be that little bit stronger and better on the day. Give that this was a derby there was just one side who were really right up for the fight and that made the difference. The whole game was watched by Steven Gerrard and Didi Hamann.

 

The away side won the toss and turned the sides around before kicking off. Everton started well and they had the first half chance but McGiveron slid in well to help clear the danger.

 

The big thing about watching at this level is that you hear everything the ref says. He told James Ellison off for being "naughty" for a deliberate hand ball and then told Michael Roberts off for being slightly late.

 

On twelve minutes he booked Tom Ince when he was a little late on the right back of Everton.

 

The first chance for the Reds came on fifteen minutes when Adorjan headed wide of the target under pressure. Just after and Dobie was spoken to by the Ref for giving verbals to Andre Wisdom. The ref certainly had his work cut out to keep this one toned down.

 

Chris Oldfield was called in to the action midway through the half when he pounced on a loose ball in the area after a good cross was blocked out.

 

Just after the half hour and the Reds had a great chance when Wisdom put Ince in but after cuttingback inside his man he fired a woeful shot high and wide.

 

Murphy got booked a few minutes before half time when he went though the back of Ellison.

 

The best chance of the half though came to Adorjan when he was sent clear by Ellison but under pressure he shot straight at the keeper.

 

The second half saw the two sides come out and be ready for the half well before the ref and were left waiting for him. The Reds got the half started again but the second half just wasn't quite good enough from them. Someof their moves were good but all too often they just never tested the keeper.

 

Twelve minutes in to the half and Orentuga went down the right well and put a great cross in to but Codling flicked his shot over the bar under pressure from Oldfield.

 

Up at the other end and Ince finally showed what he could do when putting in a cross which Roddan fired wide.

 

The Reds made a change midway through the half when Ngoo replaced Ellison up front.

 

The away side took the lead with seven minutes left on the clock when their number four hit home at the back post after Oldfield missed a corner.

 

It took the away side just four minutes to score a second and ultimately kill the game off. Orentuga attacked down their right side and his deep cross sailed over everyone to the back of the area. McAleny picked the ball up and calmly curled his shot in to the back of the net.

 

The Reds did make a late change as Tony Silva replaced Adorjan but he had far too little time to make an impression and the Reds just didn't look like scoring at all.

 

In the closing seconds Dobie was booked for clattering Rodden in midfield whilst the last kick of the match went to Donegan who curled a free kick to the top corner only to see Oldfield fly up and tip the ball over the bar.

 

Overall the result was fair for me. Everton did more to win the game and looked far more muscular to the Reds who just didn't play enough good football on the day.

 

Personal Player Ratings

 

Oldfield - flapped at a couple of crosses and ultimately missed both crosses for the goals.

Flanagan - got up and down the wing when he could and had a reasonable game overall

Giglio - defended reasonably well although both goals came from his side and didn't quite support the attack enough for my liking

Sama - the one thing that sticks out to me is that he is often just too relaxed in his play and he was caught out a couple of times as a result but if he got rid of this there is potential there in him.

McGiveron - captain on the day and it was he who kept the defence going and generally was the more dominant figure at the back winning most of his tackles.

Rodden and Roberts - for me the pair go together here as they were over run too often for me in the centre of midfield. Their biggest problem was being out muscled.

Wisdom - centre back playing right wing and he has great pace but sadly on this performance his touch was like Emile Heskey and that gave away possession all too easily.

Ellison - worked really hard for little reward up front and was ultiately subbed. He knew the meaning of the match but with little service couldn't do it all himself.

Adorjan - themystery man for me - one minute he shows great skill the next he just surrenders possession over to the other side and looks like a fish out of water.

Ince - the great enigma - I've seen him skin his man and put a cross or two in but for me he just disappears out of game far too easily and I think he needs to be dropped to get a reaction from him or he'll never make it.

 

Subs

Ngoo - didn't get enough possession in his half hour on the pitch and looks gangly but at times he did show great skill on the ball.

Silva - too little time on the pitch to really see what he could do.

Liverpool Oldfield, Flanagan, Giglio, Sama, McGiveron, Rodden, Wisdom, Roberts, Elison (Ngoo 68), Adorjan (Silva 89), Ince

Unused Subs Ihiekwe, Chamberlain, Pepper

Goal

Everton Davies, Browning, Cunnins, Murphy, McCarton, Donegan, Orentuga, Dobie, Codling, Hope, McAleny

Unused Subs Nolan, Fitzgibbon, Thompson, Watson, Forrester

Goal Murphy, McAleny