Defeat for the Development Squad in Merseyside
- Town's Under-23s lose to Liverpool FC- Three goal defeat at Tranmere's Prenton Park
- Highlights on HTTV next week
Town’s Under-23 side was defeated in its second Premier League Cup group stage game on Saturday afternoon, losing to host Liverpool FC at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park.
The game was a scrappy affair in the first ten minutes, with both teams turning over possession. The Liverpool goalkeeper having to be alert to a poor back pass from Corey Wheelan before Cameron Brannagan went close at the other end with a shot just past the post.
Luca Colville went for an ambitious try which was the first real chance of the match in the 18th minute as his shot went past the post with goalkeeper Kimil Gabara only able to watch it wide.
Soon after that the home team attacked, ending in a shot from Toni Gomes being crucially blocked by Jacob Hanson, with goalkeeper Luke Coddington picking up the pieces.
A scramble in the penalty area saw Coddington make two good saves soon after, before Liverpool forward Brooks Lennon put a shot over the bar with the goal gaping.
Liverpool found themselves 1-0 up after a pass from Harry Wilson cut open the Town defence to give Brooks Lennon a chance he could not really miss; he slotted past Coddington.
Ten minutes before half time Town threatened the home defence with skipper Regan Booty going close and then Jack Boyle having his shot smothered by Grabara.
The Terriers continued to attack on 39 minutes when Ivan Paurević tried a shot from distance which went wide of Grabara’s near post.
The second half started with Wilson going close for the hosts. Coddington had to get a hand to the fierce shot, diverting it for a corner.
Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho was a key player in the home side’s defence on the afternoon and the Terriers had to work hard to break through the defence.
The first real attempt of the second half for the Terriers came through another ambitious shot from Paurević, which had to be saved well by Gabara.
Some good trickery from Boyle, from which the referee played advantage, led to a penalty shout for handball, which was waved away by referee Daniel Middleton.
In the 65th minute a free kick from Booty saw a free header go over the bar from a crowd at close range.
The home side found eventually found itself two up after Corey Wheelan was adjudged to have been fouled in the area by Martin Cranie, which allowed captain Wilson to step up and put it away for his first of the day.
With the game in Liverpool FC’s grasp, Town’s fate was sealed when Brannagan’s superb effort from distance gave Coddington no chance.
The game finished 3-0, with both sides having chances but the home side being more clinical.
Town’s team (4-2-3-1):
Luke Coddington; Jacob Hanson, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Martin Cranie, Jordan Williams; Regan Booty (c), Ivan Paurević; Luca Colville, Olly Dyson (Lewis O’Brien, 46’), Jack Boyle; Rekeil Pyke
Unused subs:
George Dorrington, Dylan Cogill, Danny Kane, Alex O’Hanlon
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