Report by Dave Usher at the Everton Academy, Netherton | |
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A Paul Willis penalty save in the second half ensured this game ended all square, but Liverpool will feel they should have come away with maximum points after creating the better chances in what was a typically hard fought encounter.
The blues' have a much more impressive record than John Owens' side this season, and are several points better off in the table. You'd never have guessed on the evidence of this game however, as there was little to choose between the sides.
Liverpool rested skipper Danny O'Donnell, who's been a regular for the reserves this season and will no doubt be featuring in the second string's game with Aston Villa on Monday night. Ryan Wilkie was also left on the subs bench with the reserve game in mind.
U16 defender Robbie Threlfall replaced O'Donnell in the centre of defence alongside James Smith, whilst Wilkie's replacement was Conal Platt, back after missing the last two games through international commitments with Ireland u19's.
Everton took the lead on seven minutes, when a right wing cross appeared to be handled by a reds defender. I'm not sure who it was to be honest (the bright sunshine made it very difficult to pick people out at that end of the field). I heard someone say it was James Smith but it could also have been Threlfall or Danny Smith for all I know.
Anyway, their centre forward (don't know his name, the mingebags didn't print enough teamsheets to go round so I never got one) stepped up and slotted the kick past Willis.
Liverpool responded to the setback well, and a minute later Noon was put through the middle by Barratt, but the striker's shot was well saved by the keeper.
Barratt was impressing in the centre of the park, and Everton were having trouble picking up his runs beyond the strikers. On 25 minutes he collected the ball inside his own half on the left following the breakdown of an Everton attack, and skipped past two tackles as he surged towards the Everton penalty area.
He cut the ball back to the waiting Platt, but he dragged his shot across the goal and just wide of the far post.
Shortly afterwards Barratt played in Noon again for a one on one with the keeper, but once more the striker was denied by a fine save.
The game started to get really heated as half time approached, and Guthrie was yellow carded for a dangerous looking tackle on Hughes. Danny actually got the ball, but the Everton skipper took exception to the tackle and twice booted the Liverpool player as he lay on the floor.
It was right in front of the referee, who saw the whole thing. Guthrie was booked, yet Hughes escaped with just a talking to. Here's me thinking that if you booted someone who was lying on the floor it was a straight red card. Obviously I was wrong.
The tackles started to fly in thick and fast after that, and the referee was in danger of losing control of the game at this point. Danny Smith escaped from two wild lunges, and was then punished for flying into a third challenge and actually winning the ball.
Then out of nothing in first half stoppage time, the ref awarded Liverpool a penalty after the linesman had spotted a tug on Barratt's shirt by Hughes. Barratt had made another run ahead of his strikers and had beaten Hughes to the ball, and as he tried to hold it up and wait for support, Hughes had a little pull at him.
It was a soft penalty to give away, but had it happened outside the box no-one would have complained at the award of a free-kick, so techinically it was a pen, even though Everton were unhappy about it.
Noon stepped up and rolled the penalty into the bottom corner, and seconds after the restart he should have put his side in front, when the ball broke to him just inside the box. He made space for a shot, but once again the keeper denied him with a brilliant stop, which went unnoticed by the ref who strangely awarded a goal kick.
The reds had done more than enough to be in the lead in the first half, but as has so often been the case this season they didn't get what their performance had deserved.
The second half was much more even, although Liverpool still had chances to win the game.
Barratt had the first effort following the interval, when he went on a solo run through the middle from his own half which took him all the way into the Everton box.
The blues defence had pushed up to try and catch Noon and Frayne offside, so Barratt just went himself and he deserved a goal for his efforts. Sadly by the time he reached the goal it looked like he was shattered, and there was no power in his shot.
Frayne then had a great chance, when Danny Smith won the ball and lofted it towards Noon. The striker produced a brilliant touch to pull the ball out of the air and flick it into the path of Frayne, buthis first touch was slightly heavy however, and it allowed the keeper to come out and challenge. Frayne beat him to it but put the ball over the bar, and the players collided, resulting in what looked like a very bad injury to the Everton lad.
The boy was screaming in pain, and after a lengthy delay was eventually removed from the field on a stretcher. Hopefully he'll be ok, but he was clearly in agony.
Everton then had a glorious chance to regain the lead, when for the third time in the match, the referee pointed to the spot after James Smith appeared to stumble and as he fell he dragged down the number nine.
Smith was furious, and he may have had reason to be. I didn't see what led up to him losing his balance and taking the striker down, and it's possible there was an earlier collision caused it. Smith certainly felt aggrieved, not for the first time in the game.
But having given two other penalties for what looked like lesser offences, the referee was always going to give this one.
Willis ensured that the decision would not prove costly however, as he dived to his right to make a fine stop before leaping to his feet and also blocking the follow up effort.
Everton always looked threatening from set pieces, due to their height advantage, but James Smith battled manfully to contest every aerial ball, and after the penalty neither keeper was seriously tested as the game ended all square.
For me, Barratt was the star man, largley thanks to his first half performance when he was outstanding. He faded as the second half wore on, but some of his attacking in the first half was superb.
Noon had a good game and worked tirelessly as always, whilst Calum Woods was as consistent and reliable as ever at right back. I don't think I have ever seen Woods have a bad game.
Danny Smith is another Mr Reliable, and he and Threlfall both did well in defence, as did James Smith who skippered the side well in O'Donnell's absence.
Over on the other pitch, the u16's maintained their impressive form with a 4-2 victory.
Team: Paul Willis; Calum Woods, James Smith, Robbie Threlfall, Danny Smith; Adam Hamill, Danny Guthrie, Paul Barratt, Conal Platt; Karl Noon, James Frayne:
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