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’
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