AcademyU18s match report: Danns and Ahmed strike as Liverpool defeat Derby

First-half goals from Jayden Danns and Kareem Ahmed proved enough to earn the Reds all three points in the U18 Premier League North contest in Kirkby.

But Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side were also indebted to an impressive display from goalkeeper Kornel Misciur, who was Derby’s nemesis on multiple occasions.

The away team were lively from the early stages and Liverpool twice needed Misciur to intervene and deny them inside the opening four minutes.

First the goalkeeper produced a solid save at his near post after the opposition had cut through, and then he raced from his line to clear a similarly dangerous attack via the left channel.

And Misciur’s stops proved especially valuable when the Reds themselves netted at the other end with six minutes on the clock.

It was a fourth goal of the new season for Danns – Liverpool’s captain on the day – as he converted Trent Kone-Doherty’s cross from the right at the second attempt at the near post.

The visitors were unruffled by the concession, however, and fashioned several strong opportunities as they were on top for much of the rest of the half.

PHOTOS

By Andrew Powell

Jaydan Davidson served up a big chance when he slid a pass across the box for Lennon Wheeldon, who fired his shot too straight – though Misciur nevertheless showed excellent reactions to glove the ball away.

Wheeldon was later in a prime shooting position but was blocked out by Luca Furnell-Gill, before Derby’s Marsel Tola was just wide with a low strike from the resulting corner.

But it was the Reds who added to the scoresheet three minutes before half-time. A neat move along the left flank saw the ball moved into the centre, where Ahmed arrived to take a touch and sweep a lovely finish inside the right post from the edge of the box.

Bridge-Wilkinson’s side did have to rely on Misciur again before the break, the summer arrival this time thwarting Farren Simons at close range.

Kone-Doherty had a sight of goal within seconds of the restart but was forced wider of goal than he would have liked, as the flowing nature of the action picked right up.

Clear chances were not quite as numerous as before the break, though Derby continued to press with some success as they sought a way back.

Past the hour mark, Owen Eames placed the ball into the Liverpool net but the whistle had been blown for a foul on Michael Laffey as the hosts played out from their own area.

Rams skipper Keilen Robinson saw a header deflected wide when he met a corner inside the area, while Wheeldon rasped a shot into the hands of Misciur.

Luck shone on the Reds goalkeeper late on as he spilled a downward header from a Derby corner onto the post, but the home team cleared and held firm to record a clean sheet and take all the points.

TEAM

Liverpool U18s: Misciur, Pitt, Gyimah (Martin, 86), Furnell-Gill, Enahoro-Marcus (Airoboma, 58), Trueman (Laffey, 58), Kone-Doherty, Pennington, Danns, Morrison, Ahmed.

Unused subs: Morana, Lambie.

NEXT UP

The U18s’ next assignment sees them start their U18 Premier League Cup campaign away at Crystal Palace on Saturday September 2.

It is an 11am BST kick-off at the Crystal Palace academy.