[lfc-news] Reserves v Blackburn report - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 18 April 2005
LE TALLEC AT THE DOUBLE IN RESERVES THRILLER
Steve Hunter in Wrexham

Anthony Le Tallec scored twice and set up another as Liverpool Reserves
came from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 with Blackburn Rovers in a thriller at
Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.

Blackburn Rovers were 2-0 up after six minutes but Reds goalkeeper Paul
Harrison made some terrific saves to enable Liverpool to get back into
the game.

It was a fantastic game of football full of goals, defensive mishaps,
near misses and fine saves.

Le Tallec played up front as the main striker, played the full 90
minutes, and had a really good match and was superb especially in the
second half.

Both teams were full of young players and former Liverpool Academy
winger Ralph Welch was in the Blackburn side.

Darren Potter played just off Le Tallec up front with captain John Welsh
and David Mannix in the centre of midfield.

Liverpool started very sloppily and found themselves 2-0 down after just
six minutes. The opening goal arrived after two minutes. Zak Whitbread
stood on the ball and let in Keith Barker who set up strike partner Matt
Derbyshire who finished well.

Four minutes later the same combination made the second goal. Potter
lost the ball and Barker beat Whitbread before playing in Derbyshire
whose finish was clinical giving Harrison absolutely no chance.

Liverpool Reserve manager Hughie McAuley was not happy with his side's
defending for the two goals and they paid the price for some sloppy play.

Liverpool should have had a goal back after nine minutes when John Welsh
had two great chances. First he miskicked from seven yards out then
after Blackburn failed to clear Welsh had another chance but could only
shoot straight at Steven Drench.

Then Le Tallec missed two great chances. He sent a header wide and then
after winning the ball he found himself clean through but could only
shoot straight at Drench.

Blackburn then should have made it 3-0 after 13 minutes when a mistake
by Danny O'Donnell gave Barker a glorious chance but from five yards out
he miskicked and it was an easy save for Harrison.

The excellent Derbyshire then nearly completed a first half hat-trick
after 26 minutes but Harrison produced a stunning save to keep out his
goalbound volley.

Three minutes later Darren Potter should have made it 2-1 but could only
fire over the bar after a superb one-two between him and Richie Partridge.

Harrison then kept Liverpool in it with two more great saves just before
half-time. First he palmed Derbyshire's effort onto a post when the
striker ran clean through and then denied the Rovers striker again with
a superb save from his volley.

For the second half Hughie McAuley made a tactical change by bringing on
Academy striker Phil Townley to midfield with Potter dropping back to
central midfield with Welsh. Adam Hitchen made way with Mannix moving to
right back.

With Welsh and Potter now pulling the strings in midfield Liverpool were
a much improved team, however the Reds had Harrison to thank for keeping
them in the game with a superb save to keep out Gary Harkins header.

From then on Liverpool got back into the game and went 3-2 up in 15
minutes.

After 52 minutes Townley got in behind the Rovers defence down the right
and after superb hold-up play from Le Tallec he set up Richie Partridge
who drilled a low shot past Drench for 2-1.

Then straight from the kick-off Le Tallec made it 2-2. It started with
superb play down the left from 17-year-old Paul Barratt and from his
excellent low cross Le Tallec was on hand to make it 2-2.

On the hour mark it was 3-2, Le Tallec again the scorer with a superb
glanced header into the corner of the net from Potter's free-kick.

Derbyshire then missed a great chance to make it 3-3 after 68 minutes
when he got in behind the Reds defence but blazed over the bar. They
came even closer five minutes later when a flowing move down the right
involving former Red Welch set up Tony Kane. His superb cross was met by
Barker whose header came off the post and deflected back into the
grateful arms of Harrison.

Barratt then went close to making it 4-2 to Liverpool when his shot was
saved by Drench after a superb run. Barratt had a fine game for
Liverpool and the 17-year-old has impressed at reserve level and once
again can be pleased with his contribution.

Unfortunately the Reds couldn't hold onto their lead and Blackburn
levelled 10 minutes from time and again from a defensive point of view
it was disappointing from Liverpool. Andy Taylor got in behind the Reds
defence down the left and after his cross wasn't dealt with by David
Raven, Paul Weaver made no mistake with the finish for 3-3.

Blackburn then might have won it had it not been for another good save
from Paul Harrison.

Liverpool Reserves: Harrison, Hitchen (Townley 45), Raven, O'Donnell,
Whitbread, Mannix, Partridge, Welsh, Le Tallec, Potter, Barratt. Subs
unused: Noon, Willis (GK), Hammill, Frayne.

Blackburn Rovers Reserves: Drench, Kane, Taylor, Weaver, Barr, Nolan,
Welch (Woods 77), Harkins, Derbyshire, Barker (Garner 80), Byrom (Hodge 30).

Referee: A Page.

Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the match: Paul Harrison. Simply because he kept
Liverpool in the match and enabled the Reds to get a point with a some
superb saves. Anthony Le Tallec had an excellent second half and
17-year-old Paul Barratt did really well on the left side of midfield.

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