U18sBlackburn 3-1 Liverpool: Match report

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side fell two goals behind in the opening 10 minutes against the team setting the pace at the top of the table this term.

Bobby Clark guided in an excellent free-kick to halve the young Reds’ deficit and offer hopes of a comeback – but the hosts netted again in first-half stoppage time to reclaim an advantage that held for the remainder of an eventful game.

It was Liverpool who launched the earliest threat, four minutes in, when Melkamu Frauendorf broke free in the right channel and aimed a cross towards Oakley Cannonier that was hoisted away.

And Rovers swiftly struck twice in quick succession at the other end.

First, with eight on the clock, Jake Batty fired in a cross from the left flank that Harvey Davies could not collect properly at his near post and the fumbled ball ran to Junior Ngangou for an easy tap-in.

And two minutes later Blackburn’s short corner routine from the right saw a back-post cross diverted back into the middle, where George Chmiel was on hand to score.

The home side continued to make much of the running and the Reds needed Davies to produce a careful stop when Ngangou was slipped into the left channel and he drove an effort at the near post.

Liverpool did, though, compose themselves and begin to mount a response, Clark thumping a strike over the bar from 20 yards following industrious work by Frauendorf on the dribble.

And Clark was able to celebrate two minutes before the interval. Isaac Mabaya’s dart to the edge of the area was stopped by a foul and Clark cutely threaded the free-kick along the ground and into the bottom right corner.

The Reds’ momentum was clipped quickly, however, as in added time a deep Blackburn corner from the left was sent back into the six-yard box and Patrick Gamble flicked it beyond Davies.

Rovers maintained their ascendancy when the action resumed and Adam Wharton was close to a fourth when he flashed a strike across goal, Davies getting a touch to prevent it finding the net.

Chances continued to flow, now with Liverpool claiming more of their own, and Clark saw a decent drive blocked before a combination of Davies and the woodwork thwarted Batty’s hit.

Next, a fantastic lofted pass in behind by Tommy Pilling invited Frauendorf to attack – his first touch controlled the ball perfectly, but his attempt to lift a finish over the goalkeeper was deflected wide.

Jay Haddow had a close-range goal from a squared delivery disallowed for offside and then Terence Miles’ crisp shot from a Reds corner was nodded off the line.

Liverpool kept searching for a way back into the game but Cannonier’s firm, 89th-minute header – set up by a pinpoint Luke Chambers cross – was saved and, somehow, the score remained 3-1.

Liverpool U18s: Davies, Davidson, Chambers, Mabaya, Lucky (Laffey, 59), Miles, Frauendorf, Clark, Cannonier, Pilling (Koumas, 89), Scanlon (Giblin, 80).

Unused substitutes:, Mrozek, Danns.