[lfc-news] Youth Cup report - Official Site

Official LFC Website, 19 Jan 2005
REDS CRASH OUT OF YOUTH CUP ON PENALTIES
Steve Hunter, at Anfield

Liverpool crashed out of the FA Youth Cup at the fourth round stage when
they lost 4-2 on penalties to Tottenham Hotspur after the match ended
1-1 after normal time and extra-time.

Things didn't start well for the Reds in the shoot out when after a
delay captain Danny Guthrie saw his effort saved by Tommy Forecast. The
keeper had used delaying tactics and maybe it put Guthrie off.

James Frayne then saw his kick saved and the shoot-out ended in
controversy for Liverpool. With the score at 3-2 to Spurs Dave Roberts
made a great save, but the referee said the Reds keeper had moved before
the ball was struck. Spurs then scored from the resulting kick to win it
4-2. Robbie Threlfall and Phil Townley scored for Liverpool.

Liverpool played well and were unlucky not to win it in the last minute
of normal time but Spurs goalkeeper Tommy Forecast saved brilliantly on
two occasions to keep out Paul Barratt and Karl Noon.

Then in extra time Phil Townley missed a good chance when he blazed over
the bar and Spurs hit the bar.

The match ended 1-1 after normal time. Karl Noon gave the Reds the lead
after a superb move but Spurs equalised through Andy Barcham.

Liverpool's Under-18 manager John Owens was in charge of the team along
with Under-16 manager Dave Shannon and eight players from the Under-18
team formed the basis of the starting team.

Utility player Lee Peltier who would have started this match at centre
half is ruled out for up to three months with a back injury while
exciting Under-16 winger Michael Burns also misses out through injury.

Owens can't play over-age players David Mannix, Danny O'Donnell, Ryan
Wilkie, James Smith, Robbie Foy or goalkeeper Paul Willis, and Paul
Lancaster is injured so Under-16 keeper Dave Roberts started in goal.

Liverpool Under-18s are bottom of their league but they did well in the
3rd round when they fired six past Wealdstone thanks to a hat-trick from
Conal Platt. Spurs overcame Nottingham Forest by a solitary goal in
their 3rd round clash.

Included in the Tottenham side at right back was captain Phil Ifil. He
played for the Spurs first team making his debut on the opening day of
this season against Liverpool!

Liverpool were close to opening the scoring in the third minute and it
came via a huge clearance from Reds keeper Dave Roberts. Karl Noon
challenged Spurs keeper Tommy Forecast who lost the ball, but the away
side defended well and hacked the ball clear.

Liverpool started well and deservedly took the lead after eight minutes
with a fantastic team move finished by Karl Noon. Paul Barratt started
the move down the left side and found captain Danny Guthrie who played a
superb ball to the raiding left back Danny Smith. He had made a great
run in behind the Spurs defence and put in a superb low cross which was
slotted home by Noon.

Tottenham equalised after 14 minutes with a well taken goal from Andy
Barcham, forcing his way into the penalty area and after holding off
Adam Hitchen, finished coolly at the Kop end.

Guthrie was having a superb opening half hour, leading by example and
making some fierce but fair tackles. He carved out an opening for Platt
who hit a well struck shot from 22-yards out that was palmed away by
Forecast. The keeper couldn't hold the effort but unfortunately for
Liverpool there was no-one on hand to put away the rebound.

There was quite an incredible let off for Liverpool after 23 minutes
when Ifil put in a superb low cross from the right and but for heroics
from keeper Roberts would have scored. Somehow he managed to block and
save right on the goal line as three Spurs players tried to force the
ball home.

Two minutes later Roberts made a superb save to keep out a stinging
drive from Simon Dawkins as the away side were beginning to get on top
in the game.

Liverpool suffered a blow after 39 minutes when they lost the tricky
Adam Hammill to injury and Under-16 winger Charlie Barnett got a chance.

Liverpool started the second half quite well and went close when Noon
had a shot charged down but from the break Spurs nearly scored. A
mistake by Under-16 defender Robbie Threlfall let in Barcham who ran
clear but Roberts proved a tough obstacle to beat as he made a great save.

Noon fired a shot wide for the Reds after an excellent flowing move
before a bizarre incident and major talking point. Roberts, for once
made a mistake when he dropped a cross right on the goal line and the
ball looked to be just over the line. However the referee ruled it
didn't cross the line and a Liverpool official was heard jokingly to say
'We've borrowed the goal-line from Old Trafford tonight!'

Spurs went close again on 77 minutes when Roberts did well on the
stretch to keep out an effort from Scott Thyer.

Platt was having a decent match for Liverpool and was always a threat.
He created one chance for himself when he turned the defender but
couldn't keep the shot down as it sailed over the bar.

With just three minutes left Paul Barratt came ever so close to winning
the match when his header brought a fantastic save from Forecast on the
stretch after good play down the left wing from Noon.

Then with the last kick of normal time a great move started by Platt
found Noon. One-on-one Forecast was again the hero for Spurs with an
excellent save.

Extra-time then loomed. Liverpool survived a scare in extra-time when
Roberts fumbled from a corner only for Barcham to crash a shot against
the top of the bar and substitute Scott Thyrer twice went close shooting
just wide and then straight at Roberts.

In the second period of extra-time Liverpool had a glorious chance when
substitute Phil Townley turned superbly in the penalty area only to
blaze over when more composure was needed.

Then in the second period of extra-time Adam Hitchen had a chance but
couldn't get sufficient power in his shot and Forecast saved well.

Liverpool: David Roberts, Jordan Holmes, Danny Smith, Adam Hitchen,
Robbie Threlfall, Danny Guthrie, Adam Hammill (Charlie Barnett 39), Jay
Spearing, Karl Noon (Phil Townley 101), Conal Platt James Frayne 111),
PaulBarratt. Subs not used: Jimmy Ryan, Sam Rukin (GK).

Tottenham Hotspur: Forecast, Ifil, Wright, Lewis, Mills, Lee, Davis
(Hellar 111), Dawkins (Hamed 84), Barcham, O'Hara, Martin (Thyer 58).

Referee: K J Mattocks.

Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Danny Smith. The Reds left back created
the first goal and had a really good match attacking and defending well.


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