University of Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle University
Men’s Northern League Div. 1A
(08/03/2023)
KO: 14:15
Report by
Fred Stewart
For the
third time this season, the University of Liverpool 1st XI demolished
the already relegated Newcastle University. After last weeks Cup disappointment,
Wyncote’s men in Blue showed great character – despite falling behind in the
early going – to triumph on a tough away day. As well as perseverance,
Liverpool produced some spectacular football – a Franki Pashias rocket acting
as the Blues crowning moment in what can only be described as a crucial three points
in their bid for survival.
After picking
up a few injuries over the last couple of weeks, manager Jack Edwards’ was
forced into changing the team’s shape – resorting to a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Despite a shaky start, makeshift centre-halves Jamie Pick and Lewis Bridson (and
later Todd Watts) lived up to the task, slotting in next to defensive stalwart
Sam Howard and largely shutting down Newcastle’s feisty number-nine.
As the game
began, it soon became clear that this was game was to be a white-knuckled,
action-packed affair. Newcastle made the stronger start, their wide players
able to find space on the flanks while Liverpool ironed out the creases of the
new formation. After a quarter of an hour had elapsed, Newcastle punished their
counterparts. Their winger found space on the touchline and cut inside for an unblemished
view of the box. To his credit, he whipped in a cross that provided his teammate
with an opportunity he couldn’t refuse – a thumping header giving Newcastle a
deserved lead.
Upon
conceding, Liverpool seemed to wake up and turn on their attacking flair. It
was only two minutes after the opener that they found their groove and brought
the score to level pegging. After a long ball was launched forward, the
Newcastle defence failed to clear their lines, leaving the ball begging to be
struck. It was at this moment that Franki Pashias – moving with the speed of a
freight train and the agility of a Formula One car – arrived just outside the eighteen-yard
box. The ball sat up nicely for the midfielder, who wasted no time in releasing
a thunderbolt, leaving the Newcastle ‘keeper rooted to the spot and finding the
top-right corner. A superb strike.
Five
minutes later, Liverpool completed their comeback – the goal coming from an unlikely
source. It was goalkeeper Alex Urbicki – exhibiting his expert distribution –
who sent a kick far into the north-east sky. Once again, Newcastle proved to be
incapable of dealing with the threat, leaving the centre-back sprinting towards
his own goal. However, the added pressure of Louis Jarvis in full flight caused
a comedy own goal. Newcastle’s goalkeeper came out to claim the long-ball, but his
centre-back got their first, producing a header that looped over the stranded number
one, dropping over the line. This gave Liverpool an important lead, which they
protected until half-time.
As the
second period got underway, the game resumed in blistering, end-to-end fashion.
Toby Cogswell started the action: dazzling his man with some nimble feet and
forcing the busy goalkeeper into a fine save. Seconds later, Liverpool came
within inches of conceding, saved only by a heroic effort from striker James
Harper, who stretched every fibre of his being to clear off the line.
Minutes
later, the all-important fourth goal of the game went in, with Liverpool converting
on the counter-attack. Once again, Pashias played a crucial role: latching onto
a clearance and keeping it brilliantly, before releasing Morgan Davage on the half-turn.
Davage exhibited blistering pace, leaving the desperate lunges of a defender in
the dust, before slotting home coolly with his weak foot to make it 3-1. This
crucial goal allowed the travelling Wyncote Faithful to breathe a sigh of
relief, as the two-goal lead looked insurmountable for the tiring Newcastle
attackers.
With nine-minutes
remaining, the Blues added a fourth to pile the misery upon the collapsing
Newcastle defence. After a succession of late challenges, the referee ended the
advantage and pulled play back to give Liverpool a dangerous free-kick. After
some deliberating, they worked the subsequent set-piece suavely to release
Jarvis into the wide channel. After attempting to block the low, driven cross, the
Newcastle full back’s luck became cursed: taking a wicked deflection and lifting
it beyond the line. However, they all count for the same, and Jarvis will doubtlessly
be claiming it.
Only
seconds after, the referee blew his whistle and brought the game to an end. A
massive three points for Liverpool in their third game against Newcastle, it breathes
new life into their bid for survival in a challenging league. Next, the Blues
will compete in arguably the biggest game of the season – at least locally – as
they face John Moore’s University in the lauded Varsity game.
Goals:
Liverpool:
Pashias 17’, O.G. 22’, Davage 60’, Jarvis 81’
Newcastle:
15’
Yellow Cards:
Liverpool:
Howard 44’
Substitutes:
Mifsud,
Lewis, Saunders, Boaventura
Player(s) of the Match:
Franki Pashias & Alex Urbicki
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