AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool lose narrowly at Wolves

Kwasi Senyah scored in the 69th minute of the U18 Premier League North match at Wolves Academy to earn a hard-fought victory for the hosts.

Wolves No.9 Jake Wilcox and Liverpool forward La’more Lee Forrester traded early attempts and young Reds goalkeeper Bailey Hall denied Wilcox again with a quarter of an hour gone.

Josh Sonni-Lambie’s first sight of goal followed, but his shot was blocked after fine work down the left flank by AJ Yeguo.

The lively Lee Forrester was proving difficult to contain for Wolves and Liverpool’s No.7 skipped past several challenges before delivering dangerously across the face of goal, but the hosts managed to clear their lines after a scramble.

Wolves’ Aaron Aneke spurned the best chance of the half 10 minutes before the break. Hall did well to save the No.5’s first effort following a set-piece to the back post, and Aneke then poked the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.

An evenly matched first 45 minutes drew to a close after opportunities at both ends.

First, Sonni-Lambie curled wide after Luca Eden had regained possession for the visitors, before Myles Dayman shot off target after cutting inside onto his right foot.

Alvin Ayman had picked up a knock in the first half and his replacement at the interval, Harvey Owen, so nearly put Simon Wiles’ team in front with his first involvement, only for Wolves ’keeper Zach Trinder to thwart him in a one-on-one.

The tempo of the game had risen and Wilcox volleyed wide for Wolves while Yeguo’s attacking influence grew for Liverpool.

And, with a little more than 20 minutes remaining, Wolves edged in front through Senya, who broke forward from midfield and beat Hall with a low drive.

Goalline clearances at both ends followed, as Lucas Clarke prevented David Osifo from making it 2-0 prior to Sonni-Lambie being denied at the last moments later.

After Wilcox had missed a big chance to seal Wolves’ win, Hall made a couple of saves to keep the young Reds in the game.

Wiles’ side then pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Sonni-Lambie unselfishly opting to pass when he could have shot himself, but the hosts stood firm to claim the three points.

Team

Liverpool: Hall, Hickman (Konde, 76), Cisse, Clarke, Ayman (Owen, 46), Murray-Holme, Eden, Farkas, Lee Forrester, Yeguo (O’Connor, 65), Sonni-Lambie.

Unused subs: Hilditch, Moran.

Next up

Liverpool visit Sunderland in U18 Premier League North next Saturday (March 21), with kick-off at the Academy of Light scheduled for 11am GMT.