Manchester Seal Blues Fate

University of Liverpool 1-2 Manchester University

Men’s Northern League Div. 1A

KO: 17:00

Report by Fred Stewart

Following a trio of successive wins since the turn of the year, The University of Liverpool Men’s First XI eventually fall to Manchester University: effectively sealing their relegation. Despite taking the lead early on, the Blues were unsuccessful in defending their slight advantage, laying victim to a late winner that thwarts their budding great escape.

            Due to the high stakes of the fixture – both sides threatened with relegation – the game got underway with an intensity rarely seen over the course of the season. The Manchester crowd realised this, coming out in droves to see which side the proverbial scythe would fall upon. It was Liverpool who made the better start: a signature, inviting Morgan Davage corner finding Jonathan Timmins. The defender-turned-lethal fox-in-the-box made no mistake in front of goal, rising highest to produce a powerful header, which sailed past the stricken Manchester defenders and bulged the net, making it 1-0 to the away side.

              Following this lightning-fast start, the game resumed with Manchester looking to have woken up. They took advantage of the weapons at their disposal: their technical ability both in midfield and out-wide forcing the Liverpool defenders to adopt a reserved approach. After the half-hour mark, this pressure told. In a cruel twist of fate, the equaliser was a carbon-copy of Liverpool’s opener: a Manchester attacker ghosting in at the front post to nod home.

              In the goal’s aftermath, Manchester continued to pile on the pressure. The man responsible from keeping the ball over the line was goalkeeper Alex Urbicki, who performed brilliantly under the unending string of Manchester chances. In one instance, he showed impressive acrobatic ability: springing to one side to parry a curling effort that looked destined for the top-corner. In another, he displayed cat-like reflexes: blocking with his feet to once again defy a certain goal. This duo of stunning saves allowed Liverpool to regroup at half time with the scores level.

              With the second underway, it continued in similar fashion to the first. Manchester, on numerous occasions, spread the ball to the wide areas, where their wingers were able to display their technical ability. Some staunch Liverpool defending, spectacular Urbicki saves, and magnificent goal-line clearances kept the game level; the impetus clearly lay with Manchester, with a relentless number of set-pieces keeping Liverpool firmly pegged back.

              In the games final moments, the mounting pressure came to a head. The Manchester winger, who was the source of many opposition chances, found himself free on the left-hand side. The technician cut in and sent a curling shot into the top right-hand corner, breaking Blue hearts: the referee ending the game shortly after.

              Despite this major set-back, the First XI can still salvage something from this admittedly challenging season. Their attention turns to next week, where they face Edinburgh University, with a place in the National Cup final up for grabs.

Goals:

              Liverpool: Timmins 6’

              Manchester: 33’, 80’