[lfc-news] Academy: Under-18s slump against Wolves - Post

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Liverpoll Daily Post, 19 Oct 2004
Under-18s slump against Wolves
Academy football with Chris Wright, Daily Post

LIVERPOOL under-18s inconsistent season in the FA Premier Academy League
continued as they lost 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

But the catalyst to the defeat came when Liverpool were down to 10 men with
the scores level at 0-0.

John Owens's side has started well and had just shaded an even match when
James Smith was forced off after a bad tackle. While the 18-year-old
defender was off the pitch receiving treatment the home side took the lead
with a header after a right-wing free-kick.

To make matters worse Smith was forced off, but fears he had broken his
foot were allayed on Saturday evening when X-rays showed nothing more than
bad bruising of the shin.

Liverpool had missed some decent chances before they went behind with
forward Phil Townley and left-back Danny Smith, who was playing in
mid-field, both unable to make the breakthrough.

And in the second half Wolves added a second as Owens's side failed to find
any momentum in their search for an equaliser after they had to reshuffle
due to Smith's injury with striker James Frayne coming on.

Phil Townley also had to go off injured to be replaced by schoolboy
Mitchell Bailey with 20 minutes to go

Liverpool stay bottom of the north west Group C table and coach Owens said:
"It was going pretty well until 35 minutes. We had played the better of the
two teams, although it was pretty close.

"We had some good opportunities, which we didn't take.

"It was a bad tackle on James Smith, it caught him on his shin, and while
he was off with the doctor looking at him, we conceded a goal.

"In the second half we didn't really get back into it. They put the effort
in, but we looked disjointed because of the changes."

He added: "For the first 35 minutes James Smith had a great game at
right-back. We like to play them in different positions, so they have a
chance of being flexible and when the reserves have a space they can slot
in. He had a tremendous game. He is known as a strong defender.

"And Lee Peltier and Danny O'Donnell were also tremendous. Lee can play at
right-back, but he has the ability to play in the centre.

"Danny Guthrie in the centre of midfield has another good game. And it is
no surprise that those four players are the ones who are playing with the
reserves regularly."

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Lancaster; J Smith (Frayne 38), Peltier, O'Donnell, C
Woods; Wilkie, Barrett, Guthrie, D Smith; Noon, Townley (Bailey 70). Subs:
Willis, F Smith.


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