Thursday, February 24, 2011

Young Guns In Seventh Heaven

Adam Morgan struck a brace as Liverpool U18s stretched their winning run to seven matches with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town at the Academy on Wednesday afternoon.

The young striker gave a superb example of his finishing prowess with two second-half efforts as the Reds made it 19 goals in just four outings during February.

Raheem Sterling and Krisztian Adorjan (penalty) were also on target while Shane Birtles grabbed a consolation for Town as Rodolfo Borrell's team continued their surge up the FA Premier Academy League - Group C table.

Ahead of the clash the Spanish coach made six changes to the line-up that had ruthlessly put Stoke City to the sword, with captain Conor Coady the most noticeable absentee due to his involvement with the first-team squad.

It looked like having an adverse effect upon their freeflowing style in the early stages as the visitors created the first opportunity of note. Warrick Charlton's clever run gave him a clear sight of goal but his tame effort was easily gathered by Jamie Stephens.

The home side responded and a jinking run and shot from Toni Silva was superbly blocked by Lloyd Allinson before Sterling saw his goalbound drive deflected to safety.

On 16 minutes the young winger gave another cameo of his sublime talent when he outpaced the Huddersfield defence but his low cross was cut out at the near post.

The 16-year-old was getting himself into some good positions and should have done better just two minutes later when he failed to get a shot away following some neat footwork in the penalty area.

Adorjan then blazed well off target and Morgan had a goal ruled out for offside as Liverpool began to press.

It appeared that it would be only a matter of time until the hosts took the lead and they got the reward for their efforts on 38 minutes.

Adorjan picked up the ball in the midfield and immediately looked for Sterling with a beautifully weighted pass in behind the right full-back. The diminutive winger beat the advancing 'keeper to the ball and bravely dinked a delightful finish into the empty net.

The visitors had done very little in the attacking third but they almost drew level on the stroke of half-time when a set piece caused havoc in the Reds defence, leading to a free header for Birtles that he somehow contrived to nod wide.

If that was a warning for Borrell and co they certainly took heed of it as within five minutes of the restart they had doubled their advantage.

Morgan picked the ball up on the far right of the penalty area and shimmied his way beyond two defenders before cutting a sweet shot back across goal and into the bottom left-hand corner of Allinson's net.

It was a huge blow for the visitors and within moments they found themselves three behind when Adorjan showed great maturity to send the Terriers 'keeper the wrong way from the spot after Sterling was tripped on the left edge of the area.

Liverpool were now in cruise control and the fourth and best of the afternoon arrived on 59 minutes when an Adorjan knock down found Morgan who made no mistake with a crisp volley that arrowed into the far corner of the net.

By now it was completely over as a contest and Borrell was allowed the luxury of substituting both Sterling and Morgan as the home team continued to dominate.

The Yorkshire outfit did try to fight back but it just left more gaps for the Reds to expose and Adorjan should have grabbed his second of the afternoon on 70 minutes when he blazed over following a well timed pass from Silva.

Michael Roberts almost made it five with a delightful free-kick before Huddersfield finally had something to cheer when Birtles tapped home after a smart save from Stephens in stoppage time.

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