By Mark Strickland
University of Liverpool Football Club First Team 5-2 Leeds Beckett Men's Football Club First Team
Goal scorers - James Harper (x2), Franki Pashias, Louis Jarvis, Morgan Davage; Andrew Head, Lucas Robinson
UoLFC First Team win final preseason friendly 5-2 at home to Leeds Beckett.
On Wednesday at 1pm the first team hosted Leeds Beckett (LBU) at Wyncote Sports Ground 3G Football Pitch.
The hosts donned their royal blue home strip, sponsored by Luxury Student Homes, whilst the visitors, after completing the three-hour journey, were in purple jerseys, black shorts, black socks, deployed in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Surprisingly, it was a warm, sunny afternoon for October.
Just a few words about me, Mark Strickland... I am the University of Liverpool (UoL) Football Club Journalist for the 2023/'24 season.
UoL started promisingly with the first shot of the afternoon. Mauro Boaventura cut inside, but his effort was wide of the far-right top corner.
Conversely, LBU scored from their first set piece. A short corner was taken, Jaydan Sandhu delivered an inswinger, then left-sided centre-back Andrew Head rose highest. (0-1)
Ominously, creator for the opener Sandhu nearly turned goal scorer when his low right-footed drive from the edge of the 18-yard box struck the base of the post.
UoL headed the warning.
Firstly, The Blues' No.9, James Harper, could not quite finish a flowing team move.
Nevertheless, Harper soon equalised with a composed right-footed volley from a free kick, steering the ball beyond 'keeper Matt Phipps. (1-1)
The end-to-end action continued as Boaventura fired across the face, then Leeds' no.11 King toe-ended the ball into the left side netting.
Max Williams had to deal with a difficult, long, bouncing ball. He touched it before Alex Urbicki dived on it, but the referee adjudged Williams did not intentionally play the ball. Accordingly, no back pass. No free kick. No problem.
HT 1-1.
20 seconds after the restart, the turnaround was complete. Most spectators missed it because it happened so quickly, but they were reliably informed Louis Jarvis scored! (2-1)
By this point, the wind speed had increased, causing havoc.
Harper then rounded Phipps to bag his brace. (3-1)
Morgan Davage started a run from just inside the attacking half then converted at the near post. (4-1)
LBU then had an opportunity to reduce the deficit but did not capitalise.
Harper displayed some excellent hold-up play, then assisted captain Frankie Pashias. A five-star showing. (5-1)
Immediately. Pashias doubled his tally for the afternoon but was whistled offside.
LBU had a first penalty appeal rejected, but on the second occasion the referee signalled to the spot.
Urbicki guessed correctly, diving to his right, producing a world-class save. Unfortunately for him, the ball rebounded to taker Lucas Robinson. Nothing neither Urbicki nor his outfield teammates could do. (5-2).
UoL were in complete control after interval, but as the game became streched, LBU also had several goal-scoring opportunities.
Two set-piece, the only blemish on an otherwise satisfactory afternoon.
League season starts on Wednesday!
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