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With two players out through injury, Liverton travelled to Marldon in the hope of continuing their new found form with a squad of eight. An excellent start to the game saw both teams testing each other out, and going close to opening the scoring. Our back three of Harry, Will and George were called into action early to deny the Marldon strikers goalscoring opportunities but as the half progressed Liverton grew into the game and were dominating the home side when Ben turned in the box and fired home from an inswinging Toby corner. The lead stayed intact with our changing midfield of Kiernan, Jack, captain Aaron and Toby working hard to play Ben through into space, and the striker was unlucky not to double the advantage when he brought a good save from the Marldon keeper. The home side were pushing forward too, with George making some superb last-ditch tackles and clearances, and Will heading away well when dangerous crosses came in. Marldon had a great opportunity to level when they ventured upfield, beating our defence to the ball, the shot cannoning off the bar and going behind. But with five minutes to go to the interval, the home side got into gear and hit us with a double whammy, the first after good pressure in the box, and the second as Liverton pushed forward to try and regain the advantage. But still in the game at half time, and looking likely to turn the scoreline back around, Liverton began the second half with some great forward play,and almost found the equaliser with a through ball which crept wide of the far post before anyone could make contact. But it was Marldon who scored next, wrong-footing the defender and shooting past the diving Harry, before making it 4-1 via a long ball down the line and some good play by their winger. Another great corner from Toby caused confusion in the Marldon box, and United were back in the game when the ball cannoned off Ben's back and into the net. The lifeline gave Liverton extra impotus, and they re-found their pass-and-move football to open up the defence agiain, but were struggling uphill in the final third and couldn't find the shot to beat the goalie. Marldon rounded things off with a fifth goal shortly before full-time, and left a final score which didn't do justice to a closely fought game. Final Score: Marldon 5 Liverton United 2. Goals: Ben (2) Man of the Match: George |
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U10 v Modbury Rovers (Home) |
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What a game!! Those in attendance saw a completely new side to the Liverton team beaten the week before. Despite going behind early on, the boys worked hard to get straight back into the game and were playing some sublime football against a Modbury side who looked like they didn't know what had hit them. Concerted spells of pressure in midfield and up-front led to a succession of Liverton corners, and from one of these, a Modbury player lifted his hand to Toby's cross and the referee awarded an obvious penalty. Ben stepped up and powered it past the keeper who got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out. Modbury re-took their lead with a couple of good goals of their own, but our defence was strong and their chances were extremely limited, Harry L taking some difficult balls brilliantly between the posts. And then an excellent solo effort from Ben reduced the deficit, after Harry C's beautiful through ball he picked up the ball in the Modbury half and beat four players before rifling it into the bottom corner for one of the goals of the season. Jack came close to an equaliser, the ball squeezing just the wrong side of the post from short range and then captain Will's powerful effort skimmed the outside of the woodwork. George made one of many vital tackles just before the half-time whistle came, denying the Rovers' striker a clear shot on goal, and at the break we were well in the game at 3-2 to Modbury. The excitement continued into the second half where the Liverton players continued as they'd left off, Kiernan and Harry C winning tackles in midfield and feeding some great passes through to the strikers. We were working hard to equalise again when Modbury broke through our lines and extended their lead, but, not to be outdone, we kept fighting and held position well. Then, after a ball in from the right, and a flick across the box, Aaron popped up with a super half-volley for his first league goal for the club into the top corner. The momentum was well and truly with us as we pushed for the point and we were almost camped-out in the Modbury area for the last few minutes, the United fans screaming for every chance and holding breath at every rebound. But with nearly everyone back, Modbury held out for the win in such a good game that did massive credit to both teams and proved that we are so close to getting what we deserve so much. With everyone putting in performances like that, it's truly an honour to manage these boys. Final Score: Liverton United 3 Modbury Rovers 4. Goals: Ben (2), Aaron (1). Man of the Match: Ben. |
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U10 v Bovey Tracey (Home) |
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A tough re-awakening after the Christmas break saw our boys struggle to get a foothold in this game. With an almost full-strength side, captain Toby won the toss but from the kick off we lost possession, Bovey racing through to take an early lead. And the visitors capitalised again on a mix-up to almost immediately double their lead, giving us work to do to get back in the match. Mark, starting the game up front with Ben gave the Bovey defenders something to worry about when a few good balls forward from Aaron and Toby caught them unawares, but we couldnt keep possession in the final third and our chances on goal were few and far between. Will and George worked hard to bring the ball out from the back, and despite trying to work down both flanks and through the middle, we couldnt seem to find the link-up that would let us get off-the-mark. Jack and Kiernan came off the bench to add to the good work ethic, but even Kiernans long throws weren't penetrating the Bovey back line. Jack looked lively, and was winning some good tackles but it was Bovey who scored twice more before the interval, Harry making a couple of great saves to deny the strikers in between. Ben had the ball in the visitors net near the end of the half, after good team play down the right, but the whistle had already gone for a throw-in some time before during the build up. The second half began with a re-jigged Liverton side, Ben dropping into the defence which helped move the ball out quicker, and Toby moving further forward to try and create something further up the pitch. But despite the extra efforts the boys showed in the second period, it was Bovey who kept hitting the net, managing another four in the second half. Harry again was doing well, keeping out most of the visitors efforts, and by adding George to the front line we ended the game very positively, threatening the Bovey goal on more than a few occassions. But it wasn't to be our day, better luck next time lads! Final Score: Liverton United 0 Bovey Tracey 8. Goals: None. Man-of-the-Match: Toby. |
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With only six players turning up for the game, things didn't look bright going into the fixture, but our boys played the first half of their lives, with Harry L claiming every ball and the defensive duo of Mark and captain Harry C defending like trojans. Broadmeadow were pushing us back, but Kiernan in midfield was working exceptionally hard to win tackles and it was from one of his challenges and subsequent through-ball that Ben was able to sprint away from the Broadmeadow defenders and fire home past the on-rushing keeper for his thirteenth goal of the season. George, running all over the pitch, was cutting out passes and making ground up the left wing in an attempt to further our lead, but time and time again the visitors were counter-attacking, only to be thwarted by our back line and keeper who pulled off some unbelievable saves. For the first time this year, we were in front at the break, which clearly didnt sit well with the Broadmeadow players, as they threw everything at us as the second half got underway. Our lack of experience at being in front started to raise it's head, and from a rare defensive error, the visitors equalised with a close-range effort. Liverton started to slow, and were being beaten to the ball by the visitors who had expected and were working for a win. It wasn't long after Harry L had pulled off two more fine stops that Broadmeadow went in front, a scramble on the edge of our box and a shot into the bottom corner of the net. We tried to respond, but a great strike from the right-hand side put them 3-1 up, and then it was all hands to the pump as they pinned us in our own half, doggedly trying to clear the ball forward. Even a couple of positional swaps on the pitch couldnt help us move forward, and Broadmeadow's fourth came with a drive into our crowded box, for which goalie Harry L was unsighted. We pushed Harry C up front, hoping to use him as a target man, but when he beat two players and got through to the edge of the box, only to find the keeper waiting, it sunk in that it wasnt going to be our day. The visitors rounded things off with some great skill from their number four, who beat on-rushing defenders before setting up the final goal of the game on his birthday. Clearly a game of two halves, for which we were commended by the visiting manager: "Your Lads do your club proud, especially those who tried so hard on sunday", and proving that as our football gets better by the week, that elusive first win is surely just around the corner. Superb effort lads, keep it going. Final Score: Liverton United 1 Broadmeadow 5. Goal: Ben. Man of the Match: Harry C. |
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