Liverpool Reserves made it four wins out of five with a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United at Saltergate in Chesterfield on Tuesday night.
Strikes from Jack Hobbs and trialist Reneil Sappleton clinched a well-earned win against a strong United side which included former Toffees Paul Gerrard and Li Tie.
The result lifts Gary Ablett's men to fifth in the FA Premiership Reserves League Northern Division with two games to go.
The match, which was the final outing for five of Liverpool's under-18s before next week's Youth Cup final, got off to a messy and disjointed start, not helped by over-zealous refereeing. Alan Pardew would have stood no chance appealing to the reason of Mr GS Stretton.
The Reds could have gone one behind on 10 minutes when Italian keeper Daniele Padelli failed to get his fist to a dangerous cross. The ball fell invitingly to Li Tie, only for the midfielder to hit a tame shot into the midriff of a Liverpool defender.
Robbie Threlfall might have done more with a 25-yard free-kick midway through the half, especially after fighting Emiliano Insua and Nabil El Zhar for the right to take it.
El Zhar did well to weave himself into a shooting position shortly after following good work from Paul Anderson, but it wasn't to be.
Never mind. Two minutes later the Reds were in front when the colossal Jack Hobbs got his right boot on to a wayward effort from the otherwise impressive Jay Spearing. Wrong-footed, Gerrard stood no chance. It was turning out to be a difficult night for former Toffees.
Spearing, forever buzzing around the midfield like a bumble bee, or just a young Sammy Lee, nearly made it 2-0 on 25 minutes after a delightful throughball from Anderson on the right.
Unfortunately the little man blazed his volley into the empty terraces. Still, Gary Ablett's men went in at the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.
That margin was very nearly doubled just minutes after the restart following neat interplay between Craig Lindfield and, playing in the hole, the skillful El Zhar.
The move left the Moroccan one-on-one with Gerrard, but he just couldn't guide his shot past United's experienced stopper.
Elsewhere, Hobbs and the powerful Ronald Huth were winning everything at the back. The home bench wasn't happy with some of their methods, though no one else was complaining at the ref's new relaxed demeanor.
Lindfield and Spearing both missed opportunities to add a second, while Mr Stretton missed a chance to get his cards out following an atrocious challenge by Li Tie on 17-year-old left-back Insua. Minutes later Huth was booked for no worse.
Victory was sealed in the last minute with a fine strike inside the box from late sub Sappleton.
Liverpoolfc.tv man-of-the-match: Jack Hobbs.
Liverpool Reserves: Padelli, Darby, Insua, Huth, Hobbs (capt), Spearing, Anderson, Flynn, Lindfield (Sappleton 80), El Zhar, Threlfall (Brouwer 70).
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...70410-2055.htm
Strikes from Jack Hobbs and trialist Reneil Sappleton clinched a well-earned win against a strong United side which included former Toffees Paul Gerrard and Li Tie.
The result lifts Gary Ablett's men to fifth in the FA Premiership Reserves League Northern Division with two games to go.
The match, which was the final outing for five of Liverpool's under-18s before next week's Youth Cup final, got off to a messy and disjointed start, not helped by over-zealous refereeing. Alan Pardew would have stood no chance appealing to the reason of Mr GS Stretton.
The Reds could have gone one behind on 10 minutes when Italian keeper Daniele Padelli failed to get his fist to a dangerous cross. The ball fell invitingly to Li Tie, only for the midfielder to hit a tame shot into the midriff of a Liverpool defender.
Robbie Threlfall might have done more with a 25-yard free-kick midway through the half, especially after fighting Emiliano Insua and Nabil El Zhar for the right to take it.
El Zhar did well to weave himself into a shooting position shortly after following good work from Paul Anderson, but it wasn't to be.
Never mind. Two minutes later the Reds were in front when the colossal Jack Hobbs got his right boot on to a wayward effort from the otherwise impressive Jay Spearing. Wrong-footed, Gerrard stood no chance. It was turning out to be a difficult night for former Toffees.
Spearing, forever buzzing around the midfield like a bumble bee, or just a young Sammy Lee, nearly made it 2-0 on 25 minutes after a delightful throughball from Anderson on the right.
Unfortunately the little man blazed his volley into the empty terraces. Still, Gary Ablett's men went in at the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.
That margin was very nearly doubled just minutes after the restart following neat interplay between Craig Lindfield and, playing in the hole, the skillful El Zhar.
The move left the Moroccan one-on-one with Gerrard, but he just couldn't guide his shot past United's experienced stopper.
Elsewhere, Hobbs and the powerful Ronald Huth were winning everything at the back. The home bench wasn't happy with some of their methods, though no one else was complaining at the ref's new relaxed demeanor.
Lindfield and Spearing both missed opportunities to add a second, while Mr Stretton missed a chance to get his cards out following an atrocious challenge by Li Tie on 17-year-old left-back Insua. Minutes later Huth was booked for no worse.
Victory was sealed in the last minute with a fine strike inside the box from late sub Sappleton.
Liverpoolfc.tv man-of-the-match: Jack Hobbs.
Liverpool Reserves: Padelli, Darby, Insua, Huth, Hobbs (capt), Spearing, Anderson, Flynn, Lindfield (Sappleton 80), El Zhar, Threlfall (Brouwer 70).
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...70410-2055.htm
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