Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

A thoroughly miserable week for the reds was made complete as the u18's were sent tumbling out of the FA Youth Cup after a penalty shoot out defeat to Spurs.

The defeat was cruel on John Owens' side, who probably just shaded a closely contested game which saw some excellent football played by both sides.

The reds named the same eleven that had put six past Wealdstone in the last round, and the lads started the game very well. They may be bottom of the u18 league, but there appeared to be no shortage of confidence as they set about the visitors from the opening whistle.

Liverpool took the lead seven minutes into the game through Karl Noon. Danny Guthrie was the creator, exchanging passes with Conal Platt before sliding a brilliant pass through to overlapping left back Danny Smith. Smith advanced to the byline before driving the ball across the face of goal giving Noon a simple tap in.

The lead lasted just five minutes however, as Spurs levelled through livewire striker Andy Barcham. When he latched onto a through ball there seemed little danger at first, but he did well to cut inside Hitchen and fire a low shot past Roberts.

Platt then tested Spurs keeper Foilcast with a 20 yd effort after some excellent work by Guthrie, before the reds were given a huge let off when Spurs somehow failed to put the ball in the net after a frantic goalmouth scramble on 22 minutes.

Three times it looked as though the ball had to go in, but each time a defender managed to get a block and in the end Roberts smothered the ball and the danger was averted.

Roberts then made a great save from Barcham minutes later, as the visitors enjoyed a good spell of pressure. The reds weathered the storm though, and even though they lost winger Adam Hammill through injury just before half time, Owens' side still went on to control the second half.

Spurs were always a threat on the counter however, with the pace of Barcham and substitute Hamed giving Liverpool plenty to think about.

Roberts made a great stop after Barcham had turned Threlfall and ran clear from the halfway line ten minutes after the break. The striker seemed certain to score, but u16 keeper Roberts did very well to keep it out.

The keeper enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune shortly after however, when he dropped a high cross and Spurs felt the ball had crossed the line before Roberts managed to retrieve the situation.

The incident was at the Anny Road end and I was sat on the Kop, so I have no idea whether it was over the line or not, but the referee and linesman didn't give it despite the protests of the Spurs players. They've not had much luck with goalline decisions of late have they?

Liverpool continued to dominate possession, but for all the neat approach play of Guthrie and Platt, they were finding it tough to get a clear sight of the Tottenham goal.

Roberts had to make another excellent save with 14 minutes remaining, and the reds should have won the game with the last kick of normal time when substitute Charlie Barnett played in Noon only for the striker to hit his shot too close to the keeper.

Noon was replaced by Townley shortly after, and the substitute wasted a great opportunity at the Kop end in the second period of extra time when he blazed the ball over after a cross from the impressive Conal Platt.

Platt had been a hat-trick hero in the last round against Wealdstone, and he caught the eye again before he was replaced due to cramp with eight minutes of extra time left.

Neither side could make the breakthrough, and on to penalty kicks we went.

Up first was captain Danny Guthrie, but even though it wasn't the worst penalty in the world, it was a decent height for the keeper who made a brilliant save to his right.

It was cruel on Guthrie, who had been outstanding. The England u18 midfielder ran the game from midfield and was the best player on view by some distance.

O'Hara netted for Chelsea, and then up stepped u16 defender Robbie Threlfall. Robbie had his own little fan club on the Kop, presumably all his mates and their girlfriends.

You'd think that stepping up to take a penalty at the Kop end would be a nerve wracking experience for a 16 year old, but Robbie was actually laughing as he walked up to take the kick accompanied by wild cheering and hysterical screaming! He coolly sent the keeper the wrong way before winking at his mates.

Phil Ifill and Charlie Lee netted for Chelsea, and Townley tucked away his kick for the reds before James Frayne saw his poor kick saved by Foilcast.

Spurs needed only to score from one of their two remaining kicks to go through, but the shoot out ended in controversial circumstances when Roberts kept out the visitors fourth penalty by Scott Thyer, only for the referee order the kick to be retaken.

The linesman had ruled that Roberts had moved off his line before the kick was taken, which was a scandalously petty decision. Every keeper takes a slight step forward before diving, and Roberts was actually virtually on the goalline when he saved with his legs.

The Spurs keeper had done the exact same thing when making both of his saves, and the deciion left a sour taste in the mouth.

Thyer made no mistake after his reprieve, sending Roberts the wrong way before being mobbed by his delirious team-mates. Had he done that the first time this defeat would have been easier to take, but the linesman ruined what could have been an exciting finale as there would have been a lot of pressure on Spurs fifth penalty taker.

It's disappointing to go out, but the reds have played well in this competition, making a mockery of their awful league form.

Guthrie was excellent in both games, as was Conal Platt, whilst Danny Smith was outstanding against Spurs, both in defence and supporting the attack.

Hopefully the lads can take this form into their Academy league games and start climbing the table.

Team: Dave Roberts, Jordan Holmes, Danny Smith, Adam Hitchen, Robbie Threlfall, Danny Guthrie, Adam Hammill (Charlie Barnett), Jay Spearing, Karl Noon (Phil Townley), Conal Platt (James Frayne):

 

Agree or Disagree? Email me at dave@liverpoolway.co.uk

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