Friday 8 February 2013

Saints Show No Mercy to Christ the King

Year 9 Team posing for a team photo after their 9-2 Demolition of Christ the King

Christ the King 2 - 9 All Saints

All Saints Year 9 Boys football team played Christ the King on Thursday evening in a Knowsley league match. The same fixture last Year served up a real treat with the Huyton team edging a 8-7 victory. The Saints on this occasion were in now way ready to suffer the same outcome and went for the win from the very outset.

The opening goal came from forward Declan Daniels. He was given a perfectly weighted through ball from Elliott Tomney. Daniels kept his composure, looked the keeper in the eyes and passed the ball to the despairing keeper's right hand post. For the second goal, Daniels repaid the compliment to Tomney with a pass cut across the edge of the 18 yard box. Tomney took a touch past the defender and unleashed a ferocious strike into the top corner.

Elliott Tomney covered so much ground in this game. He was a massive presence within the game. Christ the King struggled to cope with his controlled tenacity. He went on to score a further 4 goals, taking his total in the last two games for the school team to 9 after his four against Kirkby Sports. Declan Daniels scored another, and he was unfortunate himself not to score a hatrick. On at least three occasions he mesmerized the Christ the King defense with his array of tricks and ability to use both feet to outwit the Christ the King back line. However his finishing could have been better.

The All saints defense still had work to do within the game, and Alex Noonan and Sean Fagan were particularly impressive in the centre of the All Saints defense. There seems to be a real understanding developing between the two boys. Noonan bringing the ball out of defense and setting up attacks, Fagan calm and composed  and winning vital headers. Gillam Prescott the All Saints keeper dealt with everything that was launced into the box with his impressive handling.

There were two late goals scored from Johnny McNabb. It was a case of Johnny on the spot as he did what all good predatory strikers do, follow up initial shots and tap home the rebounds. Owen Edgerton was a major attacking threat in the second half from his right back position. He caused chaos down the right hand side with foraging runs in to the box and was very unselfish in setting up team mates when he had the opportunity to go alone.

Owen Edgerton launches a throw. Owen was excellent particularly in the 2nd half


The final score did not flatter All Saints. This gives the Saints 9 points from 9 in their Knowlsey league fixtures. The lads have given themselves a great chance of getting themselves into another Knowlsey final. This was an outstanding performance, with a very special showing from man of the match Eliott Tomney. It wasn't just his goals but his all round play was exceptional. Tmney is showing some real maturity to his play at present.
Team

Edgerton. Noonan, Fagan, Thomas
Williams, JP Nichols, Tomney, Byrne
Daniels, Bennett

Subs: Gardiner, Healey, McNabb

Sunday 3 February 2013

City Losing Grip on Title as Rodgers Reds Claim Point

Aguero scores from what seems an impossible angle


Report by Year 13 Correspondent Liam Corrigan



Manchester City are now 9 points behind leaders Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title after Liverpool claim a point at the Etihad Stadium.

When Edin Dzeko put Manchester City ahead in 22nd minute both sets of fans must have thought ‘Here we go’ but what followed in the rest of the game might possibly change the fans views on what there respected team can achieve come the end of the season. Manchester City fans would have thought that would be, go on to stroll through the rest of the game considering Liverpool haven’t beaten a team in the top 8 of the premier league this season, reds fans probably would have felt the same, but there players had other ideas.


A week that started with a humbling and embarrassing FA Cup defeat at league 1 Oldham, a game in which there frail defence were bullied, a distinct lack of desire and a lack of strength of depth in the squad showed. Heavily criticised by boss Brendan Rodgers they went to the Emirates on Wednesday to dominate for 62 minutes against a poor Arsenal team in which they led 2-0, but for all their exciting attacking play their defensive frailties again showed and Arsenal turned the game around within 3 minutes. Leaving the players and fans disappointed at throwing away a lead but willing to take a point after holding on towards the end. This afternoon again a lead was, lost after a costly mistake by keeper Reina, but there are more positives to take for all connected with Liverpool than there was on Wednesday night.


Missing Yaya Toure who is away at the African cup of nations and captain Vincent Kompany who is injured, City had lost their drive, the strength their leaders, the backbone of the team. If those 2 were present in the team, Liverpool would have faced an entirely different proposition at the Etihad. Instead of facing a physical battle, they had to contend with a team full of trickery and guile oozing with class. However, Liverpool showed they had class of their own. Roberto Mancini probably will bemoan the result but he should have no complaints, Liverpool dominated the game with his team playing second fiddle for long spells and should be relieved at a point with the task of retaining the title looking more and more unlikely. Mancini will argue and take comfort that his side recovered from a similar points gap last year and went on to win the title, but this year his team is missing that something, that va va voom, which needs to be brought back to stand any chance of repeating last year's fete.

City's lead came on the 22nd minute against the run of play as Liverpool dominated, Silva linking up with Milner to sweep in a delicious ball across the 6 yard box which Edin Dzeko gobbled up leaving Agger on the floor in a heap. City rarely threatened with David Silvas volley in the 1st minute the only shot on target for the visitors up until then. Then the controversial moment of the game, goalscorer Dzeko was left on the floor in his own half after a tackle by Agger, seemingly through the back of the forward but no foul was given by referee Anthony Taylor who deemed it wasn’t a head  injury to Dzeko nor serious enough to stop the play, so allowed Liverpool to continue to attack. City fans vented their anger at referee Taylor for either not giving the foul or not stopping the game, probably a combination of the two. The further Liverpool travelled up the field, the more the anger was directed at the reds players for not putting the ball out of play, but they had no obligation to. 


Within seconds Liverpool had equalised, 6 minutes after city went ahead, Sturridge struck home a lethal shot 20 yards out, after winning the ball off a sloppy, unaware Javi Garcia who couldn’t get it out of his feet quick enough. A player struggling to come to terms with the intensity of the premier league. Sturridge however is loving life at Liverpool, with a Man of the Match display, increasing his tally of goals to 4 in 5 games in all competitions.



Sturridge's left foot strikes puts Liverpool level

City we're looking to get to half time still level, and they achieved that with only minor scares after shots by Suarez and a dodgy back pass by Zabaleta which wrong footed Joe Hart and trickled just wide of his post. 


The second half was more of the same, fast flowing counter attacking football which suits both teams, soaking up the pressure then breaking both with devastating effect. Again not too many clear cut chances but absorbing end to end football with the typical pace and intensity which optimizes the Premier League. Manchester City threatened from corners with Nastasic and Maicon both heading over but Liverpool came the closest in the second half with Suarez feeding the ball across the six yard box but Lescott turned behind before Jamie Carragher of all people could tuck away. Mancini changed things with the introduction of Kolarov for Nastasic early in the second half to adopt a 3-5-2 formation which he thought would turn the tide in his favour but Liverpool saw to that by taking the lead. 


If people ever questioned whether Steven Gerrard could still turn in match winning performances for Liverpool then the form he has discovered since early December certainly puts that conspiracy to bed. Finally adapting to Rodgers way of playing he has freed himself since the return from Injury of Lucas. A strike of the highest quality of which Gerrard has become known for put the reds ahead in the 72nd minute, bouncing away from Joe hart, the England stopper had no chance. The technique was phenomenal a half volley from 25 yards is no easy feet just to get on target, never mind score. The goal didn’t have the same dramatic feel as the goal against Olympiakos in 05 or 06 in the FA Cup final versus West Ham but in the Rodgers era it was the most dramatic goal to be scored. A goal that ignited the bench and travelling liverpool fans, could the young, inconsistent team claim a memorable victory away at the champions? Well it looked as though they could, City weren’t at their best, it looked as only a mistake by a Liverpool player would get City back into the game and that was gifted to them in the 77th minute.





Gerrard's Volley puts Liverpool ahead



Sergio Aguero one of the most gifted players around at the moment put Pepe Reina to the sword as the critics sharpened their knives on his form after rushing out to left edge of his 18 yard box misjudging the flight of the ball allowing Aguero a sniff of an opportunity.And that was all it was, a sniff, from a seemingly impossible angle he curled the ball into the far corner, with Aguero wheeling away celebrating Reina looked on.

The Spaniard's form the past 18 months has not been the form at which he lit up the league and was challenging Iker Casillas for Spanish number 1. You could have put him in the top 5 stoppers in the world under Rafa Benitez’s time at Liverpool, but since then 3 managers later, he has made the most costly mistakes in the Premier League this season, 8, which have led to costly goals conceded. Rumours of a move for Jack Butland in January died away with him going to Stoke, but rumours of a new stopper coming in the summer will certainly resurface leaving Reina and Rodgers with some tough decisions to make. So a tense last 10 minutes ensued but no team could find a winner, with the managers shaking hands on a hard fought 2-2.


Who will be more happy at the result? Manchester City? Surely not after dropping valuable home points? Liverpool? Most probably after showing they are no pushovers at the Etihad. But certainly the real winners will be the team across the way from the Etihad at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson surely won’t let his players lose focus and a lead of 9 points again? As for Liverpool, there season has been defined in a week, no cup run as the squad isn’t big enough and strong enough cope and as for 4th place well, it looks like a case of good but not good enough, inconsistency is going to cost them.

                                                                                         

Hair Raising Finale At Goodison.

Fellaini salvages a point, but Blues blow chance to push on for Champions League spot.
By Match Correspondent Connor Bennett, from Goodison Park.

 Both sides looked at this game with the intentions of it propelling their seasons when entering the business end of the season. Speaking of business, the transfer window closed during the week and both teams added players, Everton brought in highly rated young full back John Stones from Barnsley while Villa brought in Yacouba Sylla from Clermont Foot in France. Both sides played during the week, Everton beating West Brom 2-1 in a professional performance and Villa being beaten at home to Newcastle which added extra pressure onto the shoulders of Paul Lambert’s side as they look to escape the relegation zone.

 Villa started the game the better of the two sides as Christian Benteke outmuscled John Heitinga, who had an afternoon to forget and stroked home past Everton keeper Tim Howard. Benteke, who used his intelligence all afternoon gave John Heitinga a torrid time, constantly pulling him out of position which begged the question, why didn’t John Heitinga leave the Belgian to Sylvain Distin who seemingly would have been able to utilise his pace and strength to battle every chance with Benteke.

 After the goal came, Everton got the ball from Villa and started to play all different types of passes, short to feet and long to Fellaini, but Villa combated this by putting 3 men onto Fellaini to deny him much of a leap and closed Everton down quickly, pushing them back and cutting off any passes. This sparked Everton into getting the ball into the feet of Kevin Mirallas, who could use his pace and flair against Villa full back Joe Bennett. This gave Everton the impetus to push on and try to exploit the defensive frailties of Villa’s young back four.

 Villa have been exposed via set pieces this season and constantly gave away corners and free kicks to Everton who, in all honesty should of tried to use the arial strengths of Phil Jagielka, Marouane Fellaini and Sylvain Distin a lot earlier than they did. Everton struck back through Victor Anichebe who scored a goal of the highest quality, backing into Villa centre back Ciaran Clark, spinning away from him and firing low into Brad Guzan’s goal.

Anichebe with his now known trademark turn and shot in to the far corner

Everton didn’t stay on level terms for long as Villa got up the field 3 minutes later and as Everton failed to clear a corner correctly, a second chance cross was swung in from Ashley Westwood and Gabriel Agbonlahor headed home a free header as he was allowed too much space by John Heitinga.

For the next 20 minutes until Half Time, Everton were the better team, constantly pushing and probing for another equaliser, Leon Osman, Phil Jagielka and Darron Gibson all had shots blocked by Villa captain Ron Vlaar. Everton who haven’t beaten Villa at home since March 2006 went into half time the disappointed of the two sides and this reverberated with some Everton fans who booed the side off.

 The sides reemerged after the break and Everton carried on in the way they ended the first, playing good football and trying to get back level. When Villa were on the ball they looked to play it long to Christian Benteke and hoping he knocked it down and creating chances from there. This became evident when John Heitinga failed to clear an easy header and Andreas Weimann ran in behind but fired to convert his chance. Heitinga, who will want to see the back of this game then went to clear a Villa goal kick which Phil Jagielka seemingly had controlled and jumped on his captain allowing another Villa chance which was stopped by referee Mike Jones for an offside that his linesmen didn’t see but he had seen earlier. As usual Everton’s play was coming through the left side of Pienaar and Baines but both players seemed tired and Villa quickly doubled up and nulled any attack until Darron Gibson and Marouane Fellaini offered support.

 Villa who have been lambasted for poor defending recently took apart Everton near the midway point of the half. Andreas Weimann and Matthew Lowton exchanged passes until Weimann played the ball to the overlapping Joe Bennett who swung a cross into a corridor of uncertainty between Heitinga and Howard and Benteke attacked the ball and nodded Villa into a 3-1 lead. Everton defended Zonally all day and Villa tried to expose this by throwing constant crosses towards Benteke.

Fine header from Benteke who gave Heitinga the run around all afternoon
This increase in Villa’s lead only added to the frustrations of Everton fans as, in the 64th minute, David Moyes brought off Kevin Mirallas for Nikica Jelavic to a chorus of boo’s as the change brought off Everton out ball option and pace against a poor Villa back four. He also brought off John Heitinga who also walked off to boo’s as his presence on the pitch lasted 19 minutes too long for Bryan Oviedo as Phil Jagielka shifted to centre half and Oviedo to right full back.

 These changes had an impact as 5 minutes later, an Everton throw-in deep in the Villa half fell to Victor Anichebe who played a one-two with Marouane Fellaini. The Belgian rounded Joe Bennett and shot low into Brad Guzan’s net. Everton from here on went from strength to strength in the search for an equalizer. The Toffees bombarded Villa with long balls, crosses and short passes looking to unlock the Clarets defence.

 Villa’s failure to defend set pieces cost them late on as an Everton corner was swung towards Marouane Fellaini and the towering Belgian only had to nod the ball home to give Everton an unlikely point.




Everton Lined up:
Howard
Baines Distin Heitinga Jagielka
Pienaar Gibson Osman Mirallas
Fellaini
Anichebe  

Villa lined up:
Guzan
Vlaar Clark Bennett
Lowton El Ahmadi
N’Zogbia Westwood Agbonlahor
Benteke Weimann

Everton Subs: Mucha, Jelavic (65), Oviedo (65), Naismith (90), Hitzlsperger, Neville, Duffy
Villa Subs: Given, Bent, Holman (82), Sylla (79), Bowery, Dawkins, Baker (90)






Everton Man Of The Match : Phil Jagielka - The defender played out of position at right back and dealt with Gabriel Agbonlahor fairly well. When moved to centre back he stopped Christian Benteke where John Heitinga could not, nullifying the Belgians effectiveness.

Villa Man Of The Match : Christian Benteke - The Belgian did well and bagged a brace until he came up against Phil Jagielka where his effectiveness died down. He used his tactical awareness to pull away from Sylvain Distin and bully John Heitinga while he was on the pitch.

Stats.
Possession: Everton 64% Villa 36%
Cards: Everton - Osman. Villa - Lowton, Sylla, Agbonlahor, Benteke.  
Corners: Everton 17 Villa 2
Shots: Everton 21 Villa 8
Fouls: Everton 7 Villa 23
Attendance: 38,121