[Liverweb] Youth Cup Final Report

Liverweb Youth Cup Final Match Report

Liverpool 3 Manchester City 0

Liverpool : Roberts, Darby (C), Hobbs, Antwi, Threlfall, Anderson, Barnett,
Flynn, Barratt, Lindfield, Hammill

Subs: Hammill for Roque (76), Spearing for Flynn (87)

Subs Unused : Mimms, Nardiello, Ryan

Att : 12,744

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The Reds took a giant step towards winning this years FA Youth Cup with a
comfortable 3-0 win at Anfield. The scoreline could have been even higher
as ll had it not been for the excellent form of Matthewson in the City goal.

The Reds got the game underway attacking the packed Kop end in the first
half. It was City though who mounted the first kind of attack towards their
travelling fans. Godwin Antwi stepped in though to clear the danger before
it got near Dave Roberts.

On six minutes Robbie Threlfall got a little bit too excited with his free
kick which he sent sailing up the Kop. Just over a minute later and City
keeper Matthewson was given quite a poor back pass which he just managed to
clear with Flynn bearing down on him.

The Reds were starting to settle down now in the game and boss the play. On
nine minutes Lindfield set up Paul Anderson who saw his overhead kick go
just wide of the goal. Charlie Barnett and Ryan Flynn were gaining control
through the middle of the pitch and it was allowing some good build up play
for the Reds on either side of the pitch.

On seventeen minutes the Reds were awarded a free kick out on the left.
Charlie Barnett whipped this in superbly and Antwi saw the ball just
cleared from his head for a corner ball. A very big piece of the night was
down to the sheer quality of the set piece balls Barnett played in. From
this corner he whipped in to the near post where Robbie Threlfall headed
down and then stabbed home the loose bal. The lead was very much deserved
for the Reds.

The goal seemed to put life in to City and they went straight on the attack
and so nearly got the scores level straight away. Etuhu somehow couldn't
get the definitive touch on the ball and the chance went begging. Midway
through the half and the Reds were on the attack once again. Paul Barratt
crossed in and Flynn set Anderson up but his shot was deflected out for a
corner.

Minutes later and a very fast move from the Reds gained them great ground.
Anderson was set free down the right side and he looked up and squared a
great cross for Barratt but his shot from six yards out was straight at the
keeper. A great opportunity gone begging.

Dave Roberts was called in to action on twenty seven minutes and it was
great reflexes that helped him out this time. A corner ball fell to Etuhu
twelve yards out and he shot through a bunch of players but Roberts managed
to save the shot.

The Red were two goals to the good just after the half hour and it was a
fine bit of play from Paul Anderson once again that made it. Anderson
intercepted a ball out right and ran inside with it. As he thought about
shooting he saw Ryan Flynn coming in and set him u and without breaking
stride Flynn side footed the ball home past the keeper.

It nearly got better just two minutes later when Barratt put Lindfield in
down the right and his cross to Hammill was flicked just over the bar. Six
minutes before half time and the Reds were on the attack again and
Threlfall crossed in from the left side to Anderson who volleyed on goal.
Once again though the keeper pulled off a good save and the chance went
begging.

The two sides came out for the second half and this had been pretty much
one way traffic so far with the Reds threatening to walk away with the
final in this leg alone. To their credit though City dug deep and played
well in the second half without creating a shed load of chances.

The Reds continued to create good chances though and just two minutes in
Paul Anderson saw his header well saved on the line and luckily cleared
away. On fifty six minutes there was a wake up call for the Reds as
Sturridge hit the outside of the post from six yards. The striker had more
time than he realised as the Reds' defence seemed to be at sixes and sevens.

On sixty three minutes Dave Roberts was called in to action as he saved a
City shot from the edge of the area. The shot took a deflection on the way
so Roberts had to adjust quickly. As he has shown en route to the final
though Roberts is a decent keeper.

On seventy one minutes there was a real scare for the Reds from a City
corner. It didn't seem a worry to begin with as it dropped for Darby to
clear. His clearance though cannoned off a City player and flew towards
goal but Antwi cleared off the line. Having not cleared the area a second
shot came in which Antwi again cleared off the line and then a third shot
was tipped around the post by Roberts.

On seventy five minutes there was a spectacular effort from Anderson which
deserved a goal. Barratt crossed a great ball in and Anderson managed to
find some room. He acrobatically volleyed a side scissor kick and connected
superbly only to see the ball hit the bar and go to safety. This would have
been a cracking goal had it gone in.

Mike Roque came on for Adam Hammill on seventy six minutes as the Reds
seemed to aim to close the game off a bit more and protect the two goal
cushion. Hammill had faded out of the game a lot though and the change was
needed.

The Reds made it three nil on eighty three minutes thanks to that sub
Roque. He rose un marked to head home another quality Barnett corner. That
goal could be the one that makes the second leg that bit harder for City to
come back in and on the night it was all the Reds deserved. They had played
some great football at times and created tonnes of chances.

With three minutes to go Jay Spearing was introduced for the cramped up
Ryan Flynn. Spearing walked straight on and did exactly what he does best
and bossed every player in to specific roles.

As the final whistle sounded the Reds celebrated a great game and a great
lead in the first leg of the final. With the second leg just a week away
the Reds have time to work on some specific game plan to ensure Stephen
Darby gets his hands on the FA Youth Cup.

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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.
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