AcademyMatch report: Derby County 1-1 Liverpool U18s
Liverpool U18s were held to a 1-1 draw away at Derby County in the U18 Premier League North on Saturday afternoon.
The Rams went ahead in the contest after 30 minutes through Olamide Ibrahim's finish, despite coming under heavy pressure from their opponents in the first half.
But Oakley Cannonier scored his 21st league goal of the season with a powerful header midway through the second period to rescue a point for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's Reds.
The visitors were the team in control throughout the opening 45 minutes, and were extremely unfortunate to find themselves behind at the break.
Harvey Blair hit the side-netting in minute six and a succession of threatening crosses were then unable to connect with a player in a red shirt.
Lee Jonas saw his goal-bound header from Luca Stephenson's corner tipped over the crossbar by Harry Evans.
But entirely against the run of play, Derby took the lead at the half-hour mark by capitalising on a defensive error from Liverpool.
Ibrahim dispossessed Terence Miles at the back and ran through on goal, placing his finish through the legs of Luke Hewitson and into the back of the net.
The hosts had an immediate opportunity to make it 2-0 but Marko Borkovic knocked the ball too far beyond Hewitson when in front of goal.
Cannonier nearly delivered a quick response but had an effort saved by Evans, while Miles headed just wide from a corner.
In the second half, either side of saved efforts from Blair and Cannonier, Ibrahim was denied a second when he watched his curling effort from outside the box strike the post and bounce clear.
However, Liverpool remained in charge of the encounter and would have equalised earlier had it not been for a fine reaction save from Evans off a corner to deny Miles.
They made it 1-1 in the 69th minute as Cannonier rose to meet Stephenson's free-kick into the box and directed a strong header into the bottom corner, leaving Evans with no chance on this occasion.
The No.9 then had a pair of opportunities to net a winner but was off target with a shot across goal and close-range header.
Liverpool U18s: Hewitson, Mabaya, Miles, Jonas, Scanlon, Stephenson, Pilling, McConnell (Roberts, 84), Blair, Cannonier, Clark.
Unused substitutes: Morana, Davidson, Pennington, Lucky.