[lfc-news] Academy: Morale-boosting draw for U18s - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 2 Nov 2004
Morale-boosting draw for U18s
Academy football with Chris Wright, Daily Post

KARL NOON'S penalty earned Liverpool under-18s a morale-boosting 1-1 draw
with Everton under-18s at Netherton on Saturday.

John Owens's side had won just three of their opening 10 FA Premier Academy
League matches. And after two defeats confidence was low.

They suffered another setback when Danny Smith was penalised for handball
as a cross came in on 11 minutes and Everton striker Paul Hopkins opened
the scoring from the resulting penalty.

But a battling display was rewarded when Paul Barrett was brought down by
Everton skipper Mark Hughes and Noon stepped up to equalise from the spot
with his fifth goal of the season.

Liverpool had to defend for much of the match and were grateful to
goal-keeper Paul Willis, who saved Hopkins' second-half penalty to ensure
they earned their first draw of the season.

Coach Owens was naturally delighted with the effort of his side and the
result. He said: "We played some good stuff at times in the first half, but
on this occasion to have a result like that may have been more important
than the performance. We didn't win, but with the situation recently the
fact we didn't lose either is going to help.

"I wasn't pleased with the overall level of play, but I was really pleased
with the level of performance in terms of the effort. So I thanked them for
that.

"But they gave the ball away too cheaply and didn't defend so well at
times. That caused them to give a lot more effort than they needed. We need
to do better. But the end result was pleasing after a few defeats."

Liverpool, who were without influential players Danny O'Donnell, Lee
Peltier and Ryan Wilkie - who were all injured in the reserves - saw decent
individual performances from a number of players. Owens said: "Defensively
the back four had to work hard, but behind them Paul Willis had a very good
game. James Smith and Danny Guthrie did well again, as did Robbie Threlfall
from the under-16s in what we knew was going to be tough game."

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Willis; C Woods, J Smith, Threlfall, D Smith; Hammill,
Guthrie, Barrett, C Platt; Noon, Frayne. Subs: Lancaster, Pringle, Wilkie,
Peltier.


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