Posted:
Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:23 pmby The_Rock
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liverpoolfc/0400matchreport/tm_objectid=15121758%26method=full%26siteid=50061%26headline=liverpool%2dres%2d2%2d%2dbirmingham%2dres%2d0-name_page.html
Liverpool Res 2, Birmingham Res 0 Jan 27 2005
SCOTT CARSON kept a clean sheet on his first appearance in Liverpool colours, as the Reds reserves cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over Birmingham in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North at Wrexham's Race-course Ground last night.
Liverpool, who featured seven Academy graduates who had played in Rafael Benitez's first team this season, made a bright start and dominated the early possession.
Neil Mellor shot wide from distance after good work by Darren Potter, and Mark Smyth saw a header flash just past the post from a Potter cross.
The early pressure finally told just before the half-hour mark, when skipper John Welsh swivelled on a loose ball in the penalty area and blasted a left-foot shot into the top corner.
Welsh then turned provider six minutes before half-time, bursting through the centre before releasing Mellor in the inside right position.
The striker still had a lot to do, but his driven low shot from the right edge of the box beat Nico Vaesen and crashed in off the far post.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men on 53 minutes when right-back Tom Parratt was given a second yellow card after clattering Smyth.
The outstanding David Mannix then blasted a 30-yard screamer against the post, as Liverpool looked to turn the screw.
Carson was a virtual spectator, and it was 65 minutes before he was called into action for the first time, when he produced a superb low save to keep out Howland's close-range effort following a rare Birmingham counter attack.
Welsh almost grabbed his second of the game when he shot just wide after being set up by Stephen Warnock, and Mannix tested Vaesen with another fierce shot from outside the area.
Seconds later Vaesen made another wonderful save to keep out Welsh, and the midfielder then fired over after another excellent Liverpool move.
The scoreline flattered the visitors, as Hugh McAuley's side produced their best display of the season so far.
The passing and move-ment was just too much for Birmingham, and Welsh and Mannix were absolutely outstanding in the middle of the park.
LIVERPOOL RESERVES: Carson, Otsemobor, Warnock, Raven, Whitbread, Potter, Foy (Wilkie 80), Welsh, Mellor, Mannix, Smyth. Subs: Luzi, O'Donnell, Smith, Guthrie.
BIRMINGHAM CITY RESERVES: Vaesen, Parratt, Alsop, Oji, Hall, Howland, Till, Birley, Barrowman, Kuqi (Hicks 79), Motteram.
Posted:
Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:30 pmby the great one
Isn't David raven england under 20's captain ?
Posted:
Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:32 pmby Roger Red Hat
good news - by 'eck do we need some!