(A) Northumbria University
(30/11/2022)
KO 15:45
After a blistering
Liverpool first half, with clinical finishing from James Harper and Louis
Jarvis, the resilient Northumbria University staged a second-half fightback. They
snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, after the staunch Blues defence failed
in the face of prolonged pressure in the dying stages of a full-blooded game.
Words by Fred
Stewart
The Blues
knew that they had an opportunity to redeem this poor performance and approached
this week’s fixture with professionalism. Despite a delay in the kick-off time –
thanks to the late arrival of the referee – Liverpool made a strong start and looked
better equipped to compete with the in-form Northumbria side. This was shown
prominently by centre-forward James Harper, who made the most of his first
start of the season with some swashbuckling movement in the final third. This promising
stage of the game climaxed in the twelfth minute with a great team move: the
ball finding its way from goalkeeper James Pyper, up the left flank to the
precise Harper, who found the right-hand corner with a thumping finish, 1-0.
Indicative of Liverpool’s clinical finishing, the early lead was no suggestion the Blues had a full grip on the game, reflected by an end-to-end, action-packed pace in the proceeding minutes. This was summarised by centre-back Jonathan Timmins on the half-hour mark, a crunching challenge thwarting a Northumbria forward as he bared down on goal. The games intensity reached its boiling point six minutes later, with midfielder Franki Pashias brought down in a dangerous area by a horrific, studs up challenge – flaring both sides respective tempers.
Liverpool
capitalised on this extended stoppage in play. It was the quick-thinking Jack Ryan
that caused this: his subtle through ball from the dead-ball sending it into
the Northumbria box, with top-scorer Louis Jarvis reacting quicker than the
opposition to reach it and subsequently slot past the despairing Northumbria
goalkeeper to make it 2-0. This advantage was halved three minutes later, when on
the stroke of half-time, Northumbria’s talismanic frontman connected with a towering
header following a corner. This sent the teams in at the half-time break with Liverpool
holding a deserved but marginal lead.
As the second
half commenced, Northumbria began to exhibit their dominance, showing why they
place so highly in the league. The pressure began to mount on the Liverpool
back-five, with all members called into action on repeated occasions. As the
game wore beyond the seventieth-minute, Northumbria came closer and closer to
equalising: rattling the upright from a free-kick as well as forcing fullback
Lewis Brisdon into a phenomenal goal line clearance following confusion at the
back.
In the dying stages of the game, Liverpool
hearts were broken with a rapid succession of Northumbria goals. Their
equaliser came in the eightieth minute, with the same dangerous forward
stealing in between centre-backs to nod home. Heartbreak was cemented in stoppage
time following a corner, Northumbria’s number nine again showing his aerial prowess
– climbing highest to power home his third headed goal and secure his hattrick.
Despite Liverpool’s inevitable dismay coming up empty handed in an undeniably spirited performance, it is clear to see that the team are moving in the right direction and gave Northumbria a much firmer test in comparison to the return fixture. However, the glaring trio of set-piece concessions will not sit well with the team and is a clear aspect where improvement needs to be made.
Goals:
University of Liverpool: Harper 12', Jarvis 35'
Northumbria University: 40', 80', 90'
Red Cards: Louvre (15)
Subsitutes: Luke Jones (12), Alfie Edmundson (13), Brandon Copeland (14), Charlie Louvre (15)
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