Newcastle United 2, Liverpool 4

Mar 12 2007 by David Usher, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S youngsters have one foot in the final of the FA Youth Cup, after an impressive 4-2 win over Newcastle United in the semi-final 1st leg at St James’ Park on Saturday.

First-half strikes from Charlie Barnett and Craig Lindfield gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead at the interval, and a second-half brace from Ryan Flynn ensured that Steve Heighway and John Owens’s side are in pole position to go through as they bid to retain the trophy.

Seven of the starting line-up against Newcastle were involved last season, but there was a new face with under-16s midfielder Steve Irwin, replacing the suspended Ray Putterill.

With Barnett and 16-year-old Swede, Astrit Ajdarevic, bossing the midfield, and Jimmy Ryan in impressive form on the right, Liverpool took control of the game early and had the home side on the back foot immediately.

Ajdarevic headed over from a Barnett corner after three minutes, and two minutes later Ryan saw a swerving shot tipped over by the keeper.

Lindfield then headed wide, before Ryan was again denied by the keeper from distance.

The pressure was mounting on the Newcastle goal, and on 24 minutes Barnett made the breakthrough with a superb effort. He won the ball in the centre circle and carried it forward, before letting fly from 35 yards. The keeper got a good hand on it, but couldn’t prevent the ball finding the corner of the net.

Twelve minutes later, Lindfield made it 2-0, latching on to a wonderful through ball from Ajdarevic and sending a low shot across the keeper into the bottom corner.

The home side had barely threatened, but went close just before half-time through dangerous striker Carroll. His low shot was blocked by the right foot of keeper Martin Hansen, and skipper Jay Spearing cleared the follow-up effort off the line.

Ryan had another two shots from distance saved at the start of the second half, before Flynn made it 3-0 on the hour mark, the young Scot scoring from close range after Barnett’s shot was cleared off the line.