Liverpool Stung by the Evans Factor

MCFC Reserves 3 – 1 LFC Reserves

Even though Ched Evans was the catalyst for the much improved performance from the second half after a very flat first half display from the blues; he was not the man of the match. That accolade goes to the captain Nathan D’Laryea who was an absolute rock at the back winning tackle after tackle to deny Liverpool any other real chances after basic errors from Marc Laird and Stephen Jordan had cost City to fall behind to an early Liverpool goal. Second half goals from Evans, Laird and Adam Clayton resulted in City’s unbeaten run continuing and winning three games on the bounce.

Liverpool took the lead on fifteen minutes when Marc Laird gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, Jordan won the ball back but then immediately passed straight to a Liverpool player and Nabil El Zhar was able to run through and score past Nicky Weaver in goal.

City were forced into an early change with Sam Williamson being forced of with a knock and Curtis Obeng coming on to replace him. Obeng being a right back went to that slot allowing Shaleum Logan to switch flanks and go to left back where he seemed to improve as the game wore on and ran Nathan very close for the MotM stakes.

Liverpool nearly doubled their lead on twenty three minutes when a Robbie Threlfall free kick right on the right hand side edge of the penalty area was well seen by Weaver who did well to tip the ball over the bar and behind for a corner. The half dragged on as City lacked that cutting edge or quality final ball.

That all changed when Evans came on to replace Ashley Williams in midfield and Ishmael Miller moved out wide left to give a more pronged attack, this also meant that Paul Marshall moved into centre midfield to give the weaker Marc Laird a much needed stronger partner.

Ten minutes in and City drew back level when Evans ran into the box from a flat footed Liverpool defence when Marshall drove in a deep lofted cross from the left and Evans headed a deep far post header over the stranded Daniele Padelli in the Liverpool goal.

Liverpool nearly took their lead back when put through on the break with Ryan Flynn but a great last minute block tackle forced the ball onto Weaver’s side and allowed him to save the shot. City however were still dominating possession and we saw a great thirty yard pile driver from Obeng that Padelli did well to save.

With just over ten minutes remaining City finally took the lead when Miller drove down the left and crossed in and Liverpool failed to clear the ball and it fell kindly to Laird to toe poke in the net.

City should have doubled their lead with five minutes to go when Djamel Abdoun ran clear of the Liverpool defence and squared the ball back for Daniel Sturridge who fluffed his lines for the second home match in a row.

City had the mis-fortune of having to replace substitute Evans as the game drew in to stoppage time. But the change was a blessing in disguise as his replacement, Clayton, latched on to a through ball, from Sturridge, and Adam cutely placed the ball past Padelli in goal.

Another fine result from City keeps them in the driving seat to go on and win the reserve league should they win their remaining four fixtures.


City: Weaver(GK), Logan, Williamson(Obeng 19), Jordan, D’Laryea(Capt.), Laird, Abdoun, Williams(Evans(Clayton 90) 46), Sturridge, Miller, Marshall.

Subs: Matthewson(GK), McDonald.

Liverpool: Padelli(GK), Darby, Insua, Huth, Paletta, Hobbs(Capt.), Anderson, Flynn, Brouwer(Sappleton 80), El Zhar, Threlfall(Putterill 84).

Subs: Roberts(GK), Spearing, Barnett.

Att: 365.

MotM: Nathan D’Laryea – led by example from the back – if he could show this form more consistently – he would surely be challenging the first teamers for their spot.