Report by Dave Usher at Anfield | |
Conal Platt was the hat-trick hero as the reds youth team went goal crazy against Wealdstone at Anfield to book their place in the FA Youth Cup fourth round.
John Owens' u18 side have struggled for goals all season, but the non league minnows proved to be little more than cannon fodder as Karl Noon, Danny Guthrie and even full back Jordan Holmes joined Platt on the scoresheet.
The reds have fallen at the first hurdle for the previous three seasons, including two embarrassing home defeats to Barnsley and Gillingham, and for the opening ten minutes of this game it appeared that the unthinkable could be on the cards again.
Wealdstone flew out of the traps, backed by a large vocal following on the Kop, and in the opening minutes they had the reds penned back in their own half.
Liverpool keeper Dave Roberts had to make a smart low save to his right after his defence allowed a Wealdstone player to get a powerful shot in.
I was seriously worried at this point, but that was the best the visitors had to offer and from that moment on it was one way traffic.
With Paul Barratt excelling in an unfamiliar left wing role, and the tricky Adam Hammill running Wealdstone ragged on the opposite flank, the reds began to tear huge holes in the Southerners back four.
Platt opened the scoring after 21 minutes following a superb run and cut back from the outstanding Barratt, which the reds number ten tapped in at the back post.
Three minutes later Platt produced a stunning left foot volley from 20 yards which flew into the top corner of the net at the Anny Road end.
Wealdstone's resistance was completely broken now, and their supporters on the Kop fell silent. Reds' skipper Guthrie made it 3-0 on the half hour mark, with a crisp low shot from the corner of the area which cannoned in off the far post.
It was now a matter of how many Owens' side would get, and five minutes later Noon got in on the act, when a great run and pass from Hammill found him in the area, and the striker finished neatly.
Hammill was just too direct and skilful for Wealdstone, and he came close to the goal his performance deserved when a minute before half time he went on a mazy run down the left, before cutting in an striking a viscious shot which the keeper did well to palm away.
Twelve minutes into the second half, it was 5-0. Right back Holmes, only recently back after a long term injury, brought the ball forward from the back and played in Noon.
The forward's cross was just too deep for Platt, who retrieved the ball on the left wing before slipping a delightful little pass between two defenders to send Barratt surging through. Barratt carried the ball to the byline before cutting it back to Holmes, who had continued his run and finished well at the Kop end.
Owens withdrew the impressive Hammill and sent on u16 star Charlie Barnett shortly after, and then took off Adam Hitchen - another who has only just returned from a lengthy lay off - to introduce the versatile Calum Woods.
Platt grabbed his hat-trick with twenty minutes to go, when he latched onto a bad backpass before coolly sliding the ball past the keeper for a a well deserved treble.
The reds lack of goals at u18 level has been something of a mystery to me, as I think highly of both Platt and Noon. Both are very good players, and they aooear to compliment each other well.
Yet the goals just haven't come, but perhaps this game can give them the confidence they may have been lacking in front of goal.
Platt is a player I really enjoy watching, as his football brain and elegance of movement make him very easy on the eye. He's not the quickest, but isn't slow either, and his ability to drop deep and pick out a pass have earned him comparisons with Teddy Sheringham.
He was outstanding against Wealdstone and fully deserved to go home with the match ball. I felt I had to give him the star man as he did hit a hat-trcik, but in fairness Barratt was probably the most impressive performer on the night.
He was absolutely outstanding, and the summer recruit from Man City seems to get better by the week. His surging runs and quick feet had the Wealdstone defence tied in knots at times.
Guthrie was excellent too, keeping the ball moving and always making himself available for a pass, whilst subs Barnett and Jimmy Ryan also did their hopes of a starting place in the next round no harm at all.
It was a good night's work, and a performance which will hopefully give the lads some confidence. It's been a very disappointing season for the u18's so far, but maybe this could be a turning point for them.
The opposition was poor it must be said, and Spurs will present a much tougher test in the next round. But you can only beat what's in front of you, and Owens' side did just that, and in some style.
The lads played some excellent football and really could have had double figures. Whatever happens against Spurs next time out, it's nice to be in the fourth round for a change, especially as the mancs and Chelsea have both been eliminated already.
Team: Dave Roberts; Jordan Holmes, Adam Hitchen (Calum Woods), Robbie Threlfall, Danny Smith; Adam Hamill (Charlie Barnett), Danny Guthrie, Jay Spearing (Jimmy Ryan), Paul Barrett; Conal Platt, Karl Noon:
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