[lfc-news] Reserves v Villa: report - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 1 Nov 2004
RESERVES FALL TO HEAVY DEFEAT

It was a very disappointing night for Liverpool Reserves as they fell to a
heavy defeat as they lost 6-1 at home to Aston Villa, writes Steve Hunter.

To be fair to Hughie McAuley's team the scoreline was harsh and no way did
Liverpool deserve to lose by five goals. Two of the Villa goals came from
the penalty spot, one was a bizarre own goal from Zak Whitbread and one
came deep into stoppage time.

Neil Mellor hit the post three times and had one of those nights when
whatever he did he just couldn't score, but he was genuinely unlucky and it
certainly wasn't a case of bad finishing.

Aston Villa are a good side and had a few members of the team that won the
FA Youth Cup a couple of years ago. They are coached by manager Kevin
MacDonald who won the double with Liverpool in Kenny Dalglish's team until
a cruel broken leg stopped short his career.

Liverpool welcomed back Richie Partridge after injury and Darren Potter
partnered captain John Welsh in the centre of midfield. Certainly the pair
were not at their best it has to be said while David Raven and Zak
Whitbread both didn't play that badly but will still be disappointed to
concede six goals.

Goalkeeper Paul Harrison might have conceded the goals but in no way was he
responsible for them and in fairness made a couple of great saves.

England Under-20 international Mark Smyth had a good match on the left side
of midfield while Under-18 left back Danny Smith tried hard and gave his
all at left back.

Liverpool actually made a great start to the match and had the lead with a
superbly worked and finished goal after just three minutes. A superb touch
from Mellor released Robbie Foy in space and he played clear Mark Smyth who
finished superbly.

It was almost 2-0 after 10 minutes when after a great break from Richie
Partridge he set up Mellor who hit a superb first time shot that beat
Stefan Postma but hit the post.

Mellor was then left limping after a bad tackle from Villa defender Gary
Cahill but after treatment to a knee injury was able to continue.

Villa got back into the game after 19 minutes via the penalty spot. David
Raven kept out Kyle Nix's effort with his hand on the goal-line and an
inevitable penalty followed. Raven was maybe fortunate to be only shown a
yellow card and Luke Moore cooly sent Harrison the wrong way from the spot.

Paul Harrison then made a great save to keep out an effort from Steven
Davis before Villa made it 2-1 after 27 minutes. A superb three man move
involving Moore and Peter Whittingham set up Mika Aaritalo who finished well.

Both sides then had chances firstly when Aaritalo headed just over the bar
then Mellor was denied by a good stop from Postma at the other end.

Villa made it 3-1 with the killer goal of the night after 37 minutes and
again it came from the penalty spot. Aaritalo raced clear of the Liverpool
defence and was unlucky to see his effort come back of the post but the
ball fell to Nix who was floored by a clumsy tackle from David Mannix. The
Liverpool midfielder playing in an emergency right back role held his head
in his hands and knew he had made an error. Moore again stepped up to send
Harrison the wrong way from the spot.

Mellor was so unlucky not to pull a goal back for Liverpool in first half
stoppage time when he fired an effort just wide after great work down the
left from Smyth.

Liverpool started the second half in determined fashion and were unlucky
not to score when a superb pass from Mellor gave Robbie Foy a great
opportunity but unfortunately Postma made a great flying save to deny the
young Scot.

Harrison then made another great save to deny Villa's Whittingham before
the away side made it 4-1 after 57 minutes when Liam Ridgewell headed home
following a right wing cross.

Straight from the restart the luckless Mellor went close with a great first
time effort that beat Postma but struck a post after good play from Partridge.

Mellor was also denied a goal by another excellent stop from Postma pushing
the ball onto the post after the striker hit a blistering first time left
footed effort.

The final two goals saw Villa extend their score to 6-1. First Zak
Whitbread scored a bizarre own goal when an attempted clearance went
straight into his own net then in stoppage time Aaritalo touched on
Ridgewell's header to complete the scoring.

It was tough on Liverpool but on the night when your luck is out it is out.

Liverpool Reserves: Harrison, Mannix, D Smith, Raven, Whitbread, Potter,
Partridge (Guthrie 78), Welsh, Mellor, Foy, Smyth. Subs not used: Noon,
Luzi, Woods, Hammill.

Aston Villa Reserves: Postma, Drobney, Foley, Cahill, Rridgewell, Berson,
Aaritalo, Davis, Moore, Whittingham, Nix.

Referee: I Nolan.

Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Mark Smyth. Scored a superb goal to give
Liverpool the lead and ran his socks off all night.


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