Leeds Schools' FA "A" v Liverpool, Walton, Liverpool, Tuesday 18th November 2008
The annual trip across the Pennines proved to be a tough one in this evening's fixture against Liverpool at the excellent Walton Centre. The prize, as usual, was the Antcliffe Trophy.
Liverpool schools have over the years produced many players of great pedigree and the impressive trophy room showed it. Even on this fixture the Liverpool team was able to call upon a number of players from the City's Academy Teams.
Leeds knew they would have to work hard to get anything out of this fixture. The opening ten minutes was a tense affair with neither side asserting any sort of supremacy. The game was stopped frequently for injuries probably indicative of the strength of desire of both sides.
The first real quality opportunity fell to Leeds. A mix up in the Liverpool defence meant the ball spilled out wide to Grady Marshall in space. A firm strike grazed the top of the bar but the chance was gone.
Liverpool then took the initiative. A strong run from the Liverpool Academy player saw him progress unimpeded to the edge of the box despite shouts from Mr. Rossiter et al to put a challenge in. A ferocious drive was unleashed which, fortunately for Leeds, hit the crossbar.
Moments later, Liverpool were ahead. A corner of superb quality was whipped in from the left which was met with a firm header beyond Daniel Crook. From then on Liverpool had their tails up and further opportunities followed. The second Liverpool goal arrived just before half time from a strong strike from inside the box which left Danny Crook again with little chance.
Half Time 0-2
The Leeds midfield of Michael O'Donoughue, Scott Townend and Ross Kershaw worked hard but found possession hard to come by and had to help out the defenders Jordan Emery and Matty Ingram more than they would have liked. Ross Dickinson and Oscar Bailey up front were heavily outnumbered when they received the ball and had to chase often lost causes.
When Andrew Slinger's clearance was unfortunately fluffed late on in the game, Liverpool were able to take advantage and add a third. In truth, it was probably deserved on the balance of play.
The Leeds contingent went home unhappy with the result but knew that the team had not played as a unit in this contest and the shape of the side was lost too frequently to keep the Liverpool team at bay.
Full time 0-3