LIVERPOOL U18 1 BOLTON U18 O

Scorer(s)
Conal Platt
Half Time
0-0
Venue
The Academy, Kirkby
Date
Sat 9 Oct 2004
Star Man
Paul Lancaster

REPORT by Dave Usher

 

Report by Dave Usher

at the Academy

For exclusive photographs from this game click here

A Conal Platt goal midway through the second half gave the reds' u18 side only their second win of the season, but it needed a late penalty save from Paul Lancaster to secure all three points.

Lancaster's spot kick save came with 18 minutes remaining, after left back Danny Smith was penalised for a push on Bolton's Swedish striker Doung Thach. In addition to conceding the penalty, Smith was also red carded and the lads showed great battling qualities to hang on for the win.

The reds deserved the win, but were never particularly dominant, and seem to be playing with a lack of confidence at the moment.

John Owens was without David Mannix, who will be involved with the reserves in tuesday's mini derby, but Danny O'Donnell, another reserve regular, was included and skippered the side.

John Paul Kelly was again missing, and his future at the club seems in serious doubt after he returned to Ireland a couple of weeks ago saying he doesn't want to return. Liverpool still hold his registration, but it looks increasingly likely he won't be back.

That would be a great shame, as the boy is a talent, but he has had a lot of problems with homesickness and has had some disciplinary problems as a result of that.

Kelly's place in midfield has been taken by new boy Paul Barrett, a recent acquisition from Manchester City. Barrett is a different type of player to 'Joxer', but shares the Irish lad's desire to make runs ahead of the ball and get beyond his strikers.

Barrett was partnered in the centre of midfield by Danny Guthrie, with Conal Platt and Ryan Wilkie on the flanks. Platt is usually a striker, but was today used on the left of midfield.

The visitors had the first chance of the game after three minutes, when Liverpool failed to clear a free-kick and Lancaster had to save well with his feet.

Platt then released Noon who did well to outmuscle his marker and advance into the penalty area. Platt had continued running and was free in the box, but Noon's attempted cutback was well intercepted by a Bolton defender and the chance was gone.

Wanderers' right winger Reda Kribib then got in behind Danny Smith on 17 minutes but dragged his shot wide of Lancaster's right hand post.

Then came a moment of real controversy just before the half hour. Noon's defence splitting pass sent Adam Hammill through on goal, and the youngster was crudely hacked down from behind by Bolton centre half Jasoslav Fojut.

Not only was it a professional foul which denied Hammill a shot on goal, but he was the last man. It was also a crude lunge which left Hammill limping for several minutes afterwards.

Result? Free kick on the edge of the box and a yellow card for the defender. God only knows what the ref was thinking because it was as blatant a red card as you'll ever see. The official would later compound his error by dismissing Smith for a far less dangerous, not to mention less cynical challenge.

Danny Guthrie stepped up to take the free kick, and rattled the crossbar. Bolton had well and truly got off the hook.

A minute later Hammill, still hobbling slightly after that heavy challenge, did well to turn his marker and advance on goal, but dragged his shot just past the far post.

Liverpool continued to enjoy a lot of possession without really creating anything clear cut, despite some excellent midfield play from Guthrie and Karl Noon working tirelessly and linking the play well up front.

The vistitors started the second half brightly, and Fojut should have scored on 51 minutes when he arrived unmarked in the six yard box but ballooned his shot high over the bar. Poetic justice, as the lad shouldn't have even been on the field after that first half challenge on Hammill.

Four minutes later Wilkie had to clear off his own line after the reds failed to deal with an inswinging corner, and from the follow up Lancaster was forced into a smart low save to his right.

It was interesting to note that the u18's did not use the much talked about zonal marking from set pieces, and seemed to be using the man to man approach.

The opening fifteen minutes of the second half had been good for Bolton, but on 62 minutes Liverpool went in front.

Hammill did really well on the left to beat a couple of players and send over a cross, which was just too high for Platt. Noon collected the ball however, and drilled in a low centre from the right which Platt turned in from close range.

The goal visibly lifted the reds, and two minutes later Noon headed wide from Peltier's excellent deep cross.

Then on 72 minutes came the penalty. As the ball came over from the left, Thach looked certain to score as he prepared to head into an empty net, but he got under the ball too much and headed it high over the bar from only a couple of yards out.

The reason he'd gotten under the ball however was because Danny Smith had given him a nudge. No complaints about the penatly, but why was this a red card when the incident in the first half wasn't?

Lancaster had looked very assured and confident in everything he'd done prior to the penalty, and it wasn't particularly surprising to see him save Thach's low spot kick. He also managed to save the follow up effort from Sissons, to cap a man of the match performance.

Following Smith's dismissal, John Owens opted to carry on with just three at the back, but it was a risky policy which looked likely to backfire, especially as the reds' midfield continued to try and go forward rather than sit in and protect the back three.

But the backline held firm, as the outstanding O'Donnell and James Smith repelled every attack that camer their way. Eventually Owens withdrew Platt and sent on right back Mark Roberts to sure things up, and the reds comfortably saw out the final few minutes to collect the points.

Lancaster was the star man, but O'Donnell and Smith were both rock solid in the middle of the defence. O'Donnell has really come on this season, and is also very vocal and a good captain.

Speaking of vocal, John Owens was also a lot more active today. I was slightly critical of Owens in the last u18 report I did, because he never once left his seat on the bench to offer any encouragement or leadership to his young team, but I can have no such complaint today. It was good to see.

Guthrie had a good game, Conal Platt showed some nice touches and Noon was as tireless as ever, so much so that he had to be replaced late on as he was shattered.

Hopefully this win will kickstart the season for the u18's, as prior to today it's been pretty horrific.

Team: Paul Lancaster; Lee Peltier, James Smith, Danny O'Donnell, Danny Smith; Ryan Wilkie, Danny Guthrie, Paul Barrett, Conal Platt (Mark Roberts); Adam Hamill, Karl Noon (Phil Townley):

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