Bobby Duncan hit three goals to take his tally for the season to 24 as the Liverpool U18s hit seven against their Blackburn counterparts.
Liverpool U18s 7-2 Blackburn U18s
U18 Premier League, Kirkby
March 2, 2019
Barry Lewtas‘ team hosted Blackburn Rovers at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday morning and there were several non-regular faces in the lineup.
A 3-1 win over Stoke in midweek sent the young Reds top of the table in the U18s Premier League North and they would have been looking to maintain that position with another win over Rovers.
There were changes right throughout the team as a result of the fixtures being so close together, starting in goal where Daniel Atherton was handed a chance.
It wasn’t the start he would have wanted, though, as Rovers took the lead inside two minutes—but the Reds’ response was impressive.
Duncan equalised with his first of the day soon after and Fidel O’Rourke’s weaving run and high finish made it 2-1 before half-time.
Some poor defending by Lewtas’ team allowed Rovers an equaliser of their own immediately after the restart, but the second half was largely a procession of red waves of attacks.
A penalty saw Duncan net his second of the afternoon, before Jake Cain made it 4-2 minutes later.
- Seven changes for young Reds
- Blackburn take early lead…
- …but Liverpool turn game around before the break
- Fidel O’Rourke scores great individual goal for 2-1
- Bobby Duncan nets impressive hat-trick
- U18s win 7-2 with O’Rourke again, Tagseth and Cain all on scoresheet
Edvard Tagseth, who has struggled with injury for most of the season, came off the bench to net the fifth, capitalising on an error at the back.
And the scoring was far from over, with goalscorer-in-chief Duncan able to go on and complete his hat-trick.
A solo demonstration of his ability saw him beat a defender and smash in his third, Liverpool’s sixth, to reach 24 for the campaign across all competitions.
And the final touch of gloss was put on the scoresheet by O’Rourke, impressive in Paul Glatzel‘s absence, as he netted his second and the Reds’ seventh.
Liverpool U18s stay top of the Premier League North table with the win, ahead of Derby County who face Newcastle later on Saturday.
Man of the Match: Bobby Duncan
Liverpool U18s: Atherton, N.Williams (Raitanen 56′), Savage, Brookwell, Boyes, Ritaccio, Dixon-Bonner (Tagseth 64′), Bearne (Clarkson 88′), O’Rourke, Duncan, Cain.
Unused subs: Jaros, R.Williams
Next game: Bury (A) — FA Youth Cup — Wednesday, March 6, 7pm (GMT)
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