[Liverweb] Reds reach Youth Cup Final

Liverpool's youngsters are into the final of the FA Youth Cup after
goalkeeper David Roberts emulated Jerzy Dudek's Istanbul heroics by saving
two penalties, in a heroic 5-4 shoot-out win over Southampton at St Mary's.
Liverpool were seconds away from reaching the final in normal time but an
own goal from Jack Hobbs in the fourth minute of stoppage time earned
Southampton an equaliser. It was so unfortunate for Hobbs who had a
magnificent match on the night and didn't deserve that moment of
misfortune. A cross came in from the right hand side and Hobbs, on the
stretch, turned the ball past his own goalkeeper David Roberts to earn the
Saints a lifeline. That made the scoreline 3-3 on aggregate and forced
extra-time.

Then after the aggregate scoreline of 4-4 at the end of extra-time,
Liverpool won the penalty shoot-out thanks to the brilliance of Roberts.

Paul Barratt, Charlie Barnett, Michael Nardiello, Adam Hammill and Stephen
Darby all scored from the spot for Liverpool

Liverpool were magnificent on the night and deserved to win the game in a
match that had so many twists and turns. Steve Heighway's team will now
hope to match the Michael Owen/Jamie Carragher inspired team of 1996 that
won the FA Youth Cup.

It was one of those games that you couldn't take your eyes off for a minute
as there were so many goalmouth scrambles and heroic defending from the
likes of Hobbs and Godwin Antwi at the back for Liverpool.

The fighting spirit of the Liverpool players was fantastic and the young
lads just kept fighting and fighting. They suffered another blow 10 minutes
into the first period of extra-time David McGoldrick scored his second goal
of the game from close range to put Southampton 3-1 up. However the young
Reds responded almost instantly and Robbie Threlfall rose high from a
corner to head home to make it 3-2 and the aggregate equaliser at 4-4.

Liverpool had played really well in the first half and things had looked
rosy when Craig Lindfield gave them a fourth minute lead to make it 3-1 on
aggregate. The outstanding Adam Hammill started the move and when Charlie
Barnett threaded a superb through ball into Lindfield's path, the striker
did the rest with a cool and composed finish.

Liverpool had the chances to increase their scoreline but Adam Hammill and
Ryan Flynn were both denied by brilliant saves from Saints keeper Zach Jones.

Just past the hour mark Southampton equalised when Adam Lallana set up
David McGoldrick who tapped in from close range.

The Reds then had to withstand incessant Southampton pressure in the second
half as the home side threw everything but the kitchen sink at the
Liverpool defence.

Steve Heighway's young heroes were excellent on the night against
Southampton, on a freezing night at St Mary's, and thoroughly deserve the
accolades that will come their way after this victory.

It took Liverpool's young starlets just three minutes to open the scoring
and make it 3-1 on aggregate.

It is a wonderful achievement for Liverpool to make the final of the FA
Youth Cup and the combination of home grown talent and Rafael Benitez's
signings Jack Hobbs, Paul Anderson, Godwin Antwi and Miki Roque has worked
a treat.

Liverpool Academy Director Steve Heighway made one change to his team from
the first leg with Paul Barratt coming in to strengthen the midfield, in
place of 16-year-old right winger Ben Parsonage.

As a team Liverpool were outstanding on the night and the players worked so
hard for each other and were so desperate to reach the final of the FA
Youth Cup.

Hammill was a constant menace to the Saints defence all night from the left
wing and was denied a deserved goal in the second half when he was denied
by a fine save from Zach Jones.

It was a fantastic game of football and the youngsters have done the club
proud.

Southampton Youth: Jones, Hatch, Bale, Thomson, Lancashire, Lallana, Dyer,
James, De Carvalho, McGoldrick, Dutton-Black.

Liverpool Youth: Roberts, Darby, Threlfall, Hobbs, Antwi, Barnett, Barratt,
Flynn (Roque 96), Lindfield (Nardiello 84), Anderson (Ryan 78), Hammill.
Subs not used: Mimms (GK), Burns.

Referee: P T Crossley

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For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
Liverweb is your one stop site for everything LFC

Get News updates on Liverpool and Liverweb by joining it's mailing list
To join send an email to liverweb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Liverweb - your one stop site for everything LFC

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