City Stall at Liverpool

LFC U18s 1 - 1 MCFC U18s

Liverpool failed to stop City's unbeaten season but were able to prevent them from scoring what would have been a very defining victory. Both goals came in the first half; City scoring as early as the fourth minute with the potent Robbie Mak. Liverpool were able to equalize as the half drew to a close in the forty fifth minute.

I apologise for the lateness of this report but its that time of year when the man from the Inland Revenue wants to know how much money I have been paid this year. City's goal came when Alex Nimley Tchuimeni held the ball up well in the Liverpool half and turned and was able to lay the ball off to the right to Ahmed Benali who waited for Kieran Trippier to make his over lapping run before feeding a good through ball to his feet where Keiran completed a perfect cross for Mak to put into the net from about six yards out.

City dominated the first twenty minutes but were unable to convert the chances that they created; again most of the play came down the right with Kieran playing decent parts in most of it. But after failing to increse that advantage most of the team seemed to switch off slightly and allowed Liverpool to get back into the game and so it was not such a surprise that a run from midfield was not challenged and a long range low shot was allowed to get through and goalkeeper Joe Clegg might be a little disappointed that he did not get a hand to the ball.

As with a few games recently City seemed to have played in games that officials leave a lot to be desired and this was perhaps no exception as late in the first half Chris Chantler was clean through down the middle with a clear goal scoring opportunity but was hauled back right on the edge of the area that he fell into. Whether it was a penalty is a grey area as the incident was about on the line; but being last man; the player should have walked. I thought that the referee was perhaps slightly unsighted; but the referee's assistant was right in front of me and had a very similar view that was unobstructed and so should have raised his flag; but didn't. Indeed both assistants made blatant throw in decisions against City; truly specsaver moments for the more senior gentlemen.

I am not going in the slightest going to blame the officials for the result as City were very poor for most of the second half and had Liverpool had anything decent up front would have easily beat us as too many City players were having off days but they failed to really test Clegg. City after a few late changes did make a little more impression in the final five minutes and the elongated and unnecessary six minutes stoppage time.


City: Clegg(GK), Trippier, Cunningham, Wabara, Boyata, Tutte(Capt.), Benali(Redshaw 77), Ibrahim, Mak, Nimley-Tchuimeni(Helan 86), Chantler.

Subs: E Johansen(GK), Elabdellaoui, Guidetti.

The U16s had an eventful game also as theirs ended in a draw also; 2-2.