Report & highlightsCalvin Ramsay scores as U21s edged out 3-2 by Accrington
Calvin Ramsay played half an hour and scored as Liverpool U21s were beaten 3-2 by Accrington Stanley in the Papa Johns Trophy on Tuesday night.
The summer signing got minutes under his belt and found the net in stoppage time as he returns to fitness, with the young Reds bowing out of the competition at the group stage’s conclusion.
Tommy Leigh netted in minutes 11 and 46 for League One side Accrington, who increased their lead to three through Ryan Astley and progressed from Northern Group D despite Ramsay’s effort being followed by a Ben Doak strike late on.
Highlights: Accrington 3-2 LFC U21s
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Liverpool made a confident start to what they already knew would be their final match in the tournament this season, and had the ball in the net inside five minutes.
Mateusz Musialowski opened up an attacking chance with a driving run and pass into the overlap of Luke Chambers along the left wing. The latter’s low delivery across the area was nudged in by Melkamu Frauendorf – but from an offside position.
The Reds perhaps expected a flag to be raised soon after as Accrington took the lead instead.
Shaun Whalley made headway with a dribble in the right channel and sent a cross to the far post, where Leigh – who might have been beyond the last defender – was on hand to prod past Harvey Davies.
Barry Lewtas’ side continued to play their football despite that setback, though it was the home team creating the clearer chances.
Davies twice had to react to prevent Alhagi Sisay from doubling the advantage, first by getting his body in the way in a one-on-one and then with a close-range save as the Stanley forward sought to redirect a ball in from the left.
Back came the visitors and Dominic Corness was not too far away with a swerving effort from around 25 yards out that drifted the wrong side of the left post.
Liverpool’s challenge grew within a minute of the game’s resumption for the second period.
Liam Coyle’s firm tackle took possession away from Stefan Bajcetic in the Reds half and he fed Leigh to his right, who thrashed a finish underneath Davies for 2-0.
Lewtas introduced Ramsay just past the hour mark and the right-back was soon joined off the bench by attacker Doak.
In between those substitutions, Accrington’s Nathan Delfouneso spurned a promising chance, firing too high when teed up in the box by Whalley.
Davies then produced another good save to deny the hosts, pawing away a strike from Delfouneso, but at the cost of a corner from which the opposition got their third.
A dangerous delivery from the left-hand side was met by a clinical header from Astley, who also saw a subsequent effort after a well-worked set-piece ruled out for offside.
The encounter seemed to be petering out as it entered added time, only for Liverpool to rapidly reduce their deficit and briefly scare Stanley.
Ramsay neatly tucked in a finish when a cross from Doak was cleared into his path, and Doak then forced the ball over the goalline when Bajcetic’s touch on from a corner kick caused a scramble.
But Accrington saw it out and move forward to the tournament’s knockout rounds, with Liverpool’s participation now at an end for 2022-23.
Liverpool U21s: Davies, Stephenson (Ramsay, 62), Quansah, Jonas, Chambers, Corness, Bajcetic, Cain, Musialowski (Doak, 68), Frauendorf (McConnell, 82), Stewart.
Unused substitutes: Kelly, Miles, Koumas, Spearing.
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