[lfc-news] Academy: Owens worried about firepower - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 1 Mar 2005
Owens worried about firepower
Academy Football with Chris Wright, Daily Post

SUBSTITUTE Phil Townley helped Liverpool under-18s to a point in
Saturday's derby match after his ball into the box was turned into his
own net by Everton defender Patrick Boyle in a 1-1 draw at Netherton.

With John Owens's side trailing at the break, the introduction of three
attacking players in Townley, Karl Noon and Adam Hammill enabled
Liverpool to gain a share of the spoils in Saturday's FA Premier Academy
League Group C clash.

Liverpool still await their first league victory of 2005 and are bottom
of the Group C table, but the point at title-chasing Everton could
provide the boost for the remainder of the campaign.

Neil Dewsnip's Everton side took the lead in the first half through
defender Sean Wright, but Liverpool came back after the break. Owens's
substitutions paid dividends as they got the vital equaliser. Townley's
run and cross forced Boyle to try to clear, but as his goal-keeper came
to do the same, the defender sliced into his own net.

Owens said: "We were disappointed to be 1-0 down, but in the second half
we got a goal back through an own goal. I felt it was deserved, but
again with it being an own goal it means we haven't got someone who can
find the net.

"It was a creditable draw. In the past we have had some games were we
deserved a bit better than we have got. Obviously you don't always get
that in this game, but we were pleased in the end that we had not lost.

"I was very disappointed in previous weeks with the performance, so
certainly it was better. We needed to play better than the Blackburn
game the previous week, and we did."

There were some fine individual performances, especially in defence,
including Adam Hitchen back after a combination of injuries. Owens said:
"I thought Adam Hitchen had a good game at centre-back. James Smith and
Danny O'Donnell as well in the back four, did particularly well. It was
good to see Adam back after his problems."

Liverpool gave trialist Luke Coleman, who has been playing local
football in the Kent area, some action, but he was replaced at the break
by striker Noon and will be given another chance to impress next week.

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Willis, Hitchen, D Smith, J Smith, O'Donnell,
Guthrie, Wilkie (Hammill 60), F Smith, Coleman (Noon 45), Platt (Townley
60), Barratt.

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