The Under 17's remarkable season ended in disappointment today
as they could only manage a goalless draw with Leicester at the
Academy. Despite remaining unbeaten throughout the entire
campaign, they failed to progress from their playoff group after
squandering a glut of chances against an outclassed Leicester
side.
Top scorer Jason Massie missed a penalty, Stephen Gillespie
had two goals disallowed for offside, missed a host of other
chances and hit the post with five minutes remaining, and Robbie
Foy and substitute Matty Murray also struck the woodwork as
the young reds piled forward in search of the goal they needed
to take them through.
It's hard to fathom how they didn't win this game, as the
performance was excellent and I don't think I've ever seen a
side miss so many clear cut chances. Ultimately, the boys
only have themselves to blame for not qualifying for the next
stage, but it's hard not to feel sorry for them after playing
so well all season.
It took only a couple of minutes for them to create the
first clear opening of the game, when the excellent Chris Butler's
pass released Gillespie who turned brilliantly in the box before
forcing a fine save from Leicester's rather portly looking young
keeper.
Gillespie went close on a couple of other occasions in the
first half, most notably when he put a header over the bar from
another great cross by Butler. The windy conditions were
making it difficult for both sides, but despite this Dave Shannon's
side managed to put together plenty of fine attacking moves.
The instigator of most of them was left back Butler.
He's very comfortable in possession, and excellent when running
forward with the ball. The most impressive thing about
the lad though is his ability to get his head up and pick out
a pass. He looks a fine prospect.
The best player on the field though was centre midfielder
David Mannix. He's been out of action for a few months
with a broken arm, but he was handed a start in place of the
more defensive minded Carl Clampitt, and he and Darren Potter
bossed the midfield throughout. Mannix is a massive talent.
two good feet, bags of skill and not afraid to get stuck in,
he could go far.
Some of the build up play was a delight to watch, but the
final ball was often lacking. Mark Smyth and Robbie Foy
on the wings were regularly getting into dangerous positions,
but the strong wind was making crossing the ball difficult,
and they were often overhit.
Leicester looked a poor side, and offered little in terms
of attacking threat in the first half, but they will have been
delighted to go in level at the break, particularly considering
the obvious gulf in class.
The second half was high in entertainment, as the reds desperately
looked for the goal that they needed to take them through.
That meant tha gaps were left at the back, and Leicester had
several chances of their own in the second period.
The best chances were falling to the home side though, and
in particular Gillespie. He'd already put one great chance
straight at the keeper, and when he was sent racing through
once again, this time he made a much better fist of things,
cooly taking it around the keeper who clumsily hauled him down.
Penalty, and surely the breakthrough that the reds had been
striving for.
Gillespie had missed from the spot a few weeks earlier against
Sheffield United, but he had been successful twice during the
U17's tournament success in Austria last weekend, so it was
a surprise that it was Jason Massie who stepped up to take it.
Even so, Massie is the top goalscorer and it was therefore a
shock when his weak effort was easily saved.
It was starting to look like being one of those days, and
when substitute Matty Murray (on for Massie) was sent through
by a sensational Mannix pass only to see his well directed shot
bounce back off the post, I think everyone watching realised
that a goal was never going to come.
Word came from the bench that a draw wasn't enough, andf
the reds piled men forward in search of the goal they desperately
needed to keep their season alive. Inevitably, this left
space at the back, and Leicester could even have snatched an
undeserved victory when their centre forward almost capitalised
on hesitation between reds' keeper Paul Harrison and defender
Chris McGrath. He nipped in between them and sent a header
over Harrison but thankfully it went wide.
The same player then found himself clean through, rounded
Harrison, but saw his shot blocked brilliantly by centre back
Adam Flynn who had done superbly to get back into a covering
position.
That would have been the unltimate travesty, such was the
quality of Liverpool's play. Sometimes though, it's just
not meant to be, and just to emphasise this, in the final ten
minutes Robbie Foy saw a brilliant 25 yard curler come back
off the bar, and Gillespie drilled a shot against the post from
a tight angle.
Mark Smyth saw a shot roll inches wide, and several other
chances came and went as the afternoon ended in huge frustration.
Despite being eliminated, there's no doubt that Dave Shannon's
boys are the best in the country in their age group, and they
have nothing to feel ashamed about.
They play as a team, and have a great understanding with
eachother. I'd say they're a cert to win next season's
FA Youth Cup, and I've really enjoyed watching them play this
season. It's a shame the season has ended this way, but
it's a remarkable achievement for a side to go through an entire
campaign unbeaten, the lads should be very proud of themselves.
Team:- Paul Harrison, Stephen Vaughan,
Adam Flynn, Chris McGrath, Chris Butler; Mark Smyth, David Mannix,
Darren Potter, Robbie Foy; Jason Massie (Matty Murray), Stephen
Gillespie:
