University of Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle University
Men’s Northern League Div. 1A
KO: 15:00
(08/02/2023)
Report by Fred
Stewart
Following
last week’s thrilling 4-2 victory over the same outfit, the University of
Liverpool 1st XI would go one better against Newcastle University,
this time under league format. In a game of high intensity and low chances,
Liverpool’s clinical opportunism helped them break the stalemate. Once again,
in-form frontman James Harper spurred the Blues on to victory, netting his
fifth goal in only two games since the turn of the year.
As the
game began, Liverpool knew that if they left Wyncote empty handed, their status
in the Northern League Division 1A would be no more. This was reflected by the
teams urgency and discipline in the opening stages of the game, with the back
five responding brilliantly to the early pressure. Despite the largely changed Newcastle
XI, they weren’t afforded any clear-cut chances in the early going, the centre-back
combination of Luke Jones and Jonathan Timmins standing up to the opposition.
This was punctuated by an immense save from goalkeeper Alex Urbicki, getting
down to his right to stop a strike from range dead in its tracks.
Beyond
the tenth minute, Liverpool began to find their flair going forward and fashioned
some big chances. Following a mazy run down the right-hand side, captain Toby
Cogswell worked the ball on to his right foot and unleashed a thunderous
strike. Fortunately for Newcastle’s number one, he watched as the ball smashed his
crossbar and – to his credit – was alive to the arriving Morgan Davage,
smothering the ball well.
However,
it was clear to see, following this exchange, that the momentum lay with the
Merseyside outfit. Soon, this was reflected in the scoreline. It was again
Cogswell who sparked a glorious passage of play: picking up the ball just outside
the Newcastle eighteen-yard-box and combining with fellow midfielder Jack Ryan.
In a split second, the pair linked-up effortlessly to thread their way through the
Newcastle defence before Ryan found winger Louis Jarvis, whose terrific flick found
the onrushing James Harper, who made no mistake in slotting between the ‘keepers
outstretched legs. A gorgeous team goal that epitomised the dogged Liverpool
performance.
After Liverpool
snatched the lead, the game went to a less action-packed state. From the first
goal and progressing well into the second half, chances were few and far
between, with the game locked in a stalemate of physical play and tasty
challenges; the lack of that all-important second goal stirring the Wyncote Faithful
into a frenzy.
This all
changed on the stroke of the seventieth minute. Tired legs and the resulting
ill-discipline caused the game to open up slightly, which was all the opportunity
Liverpool required to double their lead. After a period of play with chances at
both ends of the pitch, playmaker Franki Pashias seized his opportunity,
whipping in a cross that caused panic at the heart of the Newcastle defence,
with James Harper showing the coolness they lacked: latching onto the sweeping
ball, bringing it down, rounding the goalkeeper, and finishing despite the
desperate lunges of both centre-backs. When asked about the rich vein of form
he finds himself in, Harper commented: “After Christmas, we’ve come back with
the belief we can stay up and, to a man, everyone’s confidence is high and the
team are red-hot at the moment”, in a verbal reflection of the team’s newfound
determination.
As the
game drew to its final stages, Liverpool defended well up until the final
seconds, with tired legs proving to be their downfall, the Newcastle forward
heading home from short range. However, this did not trouble the Wyncote Faithful
for long: the referee signalling for full-time shortly after. This comes as a
gigantic result in the season; Liverpool giving themselves a significant chance
of survival.
Goals:
Liverpool:
Harper 20’, 78’
Newcastle:
90’
Substitutions:
Watts (14),
Mifsud (15), Brisdon (12), Lewis (17), Edmondson (16)
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