A Point a Piece Down on the Prom

Continuing with the hectic run of fixtures that unfortunately is becoming more familiar this time of year, The Non-League Reds made the short trip to Jericho Lane by Otterspool Promenade, for another tough game against local rivals South Liverpool.

South's skipper Alex Griffiths had the first effort in the opening minutes, but went wide of the target. The home side took advantage of their positive start when they took a 5th minute lead. A free-kick from just inside their own half fell to Neil Weaver, who finished brilliantly with a well placed lob.

Elliot Taylor had a tame shot straight at the keeper, as both sides struggled to create chances despite decent approach play. Clarkson shot wide for South on 25 minutes and Owen Fisher-Jones forced a straightforward save from the home keeper, just before the half-hour mark.

Elliot Taylor went through on goal but was pushed wide by a chasing defender and could only fire into the side netting. Caleb Jones flashed a shot over the bar from the edge of the box as the half drew to a close and it was the home side who held the lead at the interval.

AFC flew out the blocks in the 2nd period and were rewarded a few minutes after the restart. Deacon Smalley chased a long ball deep into opposition territory, when it looked like a lost cause. His determination won a throw-in for AFC, which when delivered into the area, was only half cleared to Caleb Jones on the edge of the box. The winger controlled it well and cut back onto his left foot, before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

Caleb Jones going close before scoring his 17th of the season later in the game

AFC looked the more threatening going forward at this stage and Caleb Jones had another two half-chances but couldn't test the keeper and Taylor shot wide from the angle of the area. However, the game was still end to end with the home side still looking to get forward but the AFC defence restricted the number of chances.

On 65 minutes Adam Moorcroft made a great run into the box and tried to poke an effort home, but Lucas Allen in South's goal made a good save with his foot. George Murray fired wide for South and Taylor struck an effort over the bar for AFC on 75 minutes.

Skipper, Adam Moorcroft went even closer in the 82nd minute, when he crashed a header against the underside of the crossbar, with the ball bouncing down just behind the line but the officials didn't agree and the game was destined to finish all square at 1-1 for the second time this season between the two sides.

Adam’s header crashes off the bar!

The Non-League Reds are back in action on Wednesday evening at the Berry Street Garage Stadium, when Longridge Town are the visitors. Kick off is 7:45pm and all support would be much appreciated.

FINAL SCORE - South Liverpool 1 v 1 AFC Liverpool

LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Smalley 3. Fisher-Jones 4. Moorcroft 5. Brown 6. Hinnigan

7. C. Jones 8. Mahaffy 9. Taylor 10. Rooney 11. Beckett

Subs used - Wright-Ocana, Starkey, Jamieson, Gerrard

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams and Billy Stirrup