ACADEMY: Kennedy earns share of points

Feb 12 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

CENTRE-BACK Joe Kennedy earned Liverpool under-18s a point as they came back to draw 1-1 with Stoke City at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday.

But Hugh McAuley’s side will be ruing a number of missed chances that could have secured victory ahead of tomorrow’s FA Youth Cup fifth round clash at Sunderland.

Despite making a bright start and Nathan Eccleston seeing an effort saved by Stoke keeper Danzelle St Hamilton, Liverpool were 1-0 down on 11 minutes from a curled free-kick from Stoke’s Jimmy Phillips.

But six minutes before half-time Kennedy touched an Astrit Ajdarevic free-kick home at the far post for the equaliser.

Stoke had striker Nathan McDonald sent off midway through the second half, but Liverpool could not make their numerical advantage count.

They had chances through Nathan Eccleston, Marvin Pourie and David Amoo, but a combination of good goalkeeping and off-target shooting proved costly.

The attacking trio, who were in such potent form before Christmas, are currently struggling to convert the opportunities that come their way.

A disappointed coach McAuley said: “We created lots of chances and at the moment with the U18s. If you look all the games since we came back from the break, we haven’t been scoring goals.

“And that was probably the strongest part of the team before Christmas. But it compensated by defensively we have done okay in the games against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United. If you look at all our goals since Christmas they have mostly been scored by defenders. It is good that they are chipping in with goals now, but we need to get firing again with the forward players.”

After tomorrow’s Youth Cup clash Liverpool will return to Academy League action when they travel to face Blackburn Rovers on Saturday (kick-off 11am).

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Hansen; Awang, Metcalf, Kennedy, O’Connor; Amoo, Highdale, Amoo, Ajdarevic, MacKay-Steven; Pourie, Eccleston. Subs: Irwin, Oldfield, Scott, Della Vale.