Good Week for Non-League Reds
- daveinnelli
- Nov 11
- 4 min read
Four points, from two games, in 24 hours! A crazy schedule but a positive return for AFC Liverpool, as they attempt to pull away from the wrong end of the League table.
First up was a home tie against Prestwich Heys, on Wednesday night at the Berry Street Garage Stadium. AFC started well and won an 8th minute free kick, almost 30 yards from goal in a central position. With Caleb Jones out of the side, Elliot Taylor took his chance to step up and strike the ball past the wall and past the keeper to give the home side the lead.
AFC had another effort that flew over the bar on the 15 minute mark and a few minutes later, Prestwich had their first real effort on goal, but the shot from distance was easy for Barnes to gather. As the background noise from the Bonfire Night celebrations got louder, both sides enjoyed periods of possession, but efforts on goal were restricted to long range strikes that went well wide of the target. However, just on half-time the visitors right full-back, Comozzi, hit a shot from the edge of the box and although the connection wasn't the cleanest, the ball somehow found it's way past everyone and nestled in the AFC net.
AFC went close soon after the restart, when Nathan Giblin crossed into the area, but the effort was fired over the bar. Appleton thought he'd given the visitors the lead, when a fine run into the area ended with him crashing the ball against the near post.
Paddy Davies forced the visiting keeper to tip the ball over, when he cut in from the right wing and tried a shot from outside the box. With only a couple of minutes of the ninety left, Joel Skillen had a great effort that looked destined for the far corner, however, White in the visitor's goal made a great save to tip it round for a corner. Skillen threatened again moments later, but this time his shot was well blocked by a defender.
As the background fireworks eventually died down, the referee brought the game to a close and the points were shared, in a game that sparkled at times but never really shone as bright as some of the surrounding displays!
FINAL SCORE - AFC Liverpool 1 v 1 Prestwich Heys
LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Fisher-Jones 6. Hinnigan
7. Rooney 8. Starkey 9. Taylor 10. Brown 11. Davies
Subs used - Skillen, Smalley
Friday night action saw AFC make the trip to Burscough FC, for an away tie against local rivals City of Liverpool and a chance to gain revenge for the defeat that 'The Purps' inflicted on AFC earlier in the season, when two late goals turned the tie on it's head.
The visitors started the brighter and there were early signs that there would be opportunities for AFC to breach the home defence. On 5 minutes, Caleb Jones followed up a Matty Brown blocked shot, but his effort went wide. In the 11th minute, AFC broke the deadlock when Owen Fisher-Jones played a great pass to put Elliot Taylor through. Taylor's shot was well saved by the keeper, however, Joel Skillen was following in to put the ball in the back of the net.
It was one way traffic at this stage and Taylor could have extended his side's lead firstly with a header and then with a shot that the keeper produced a fine save from. The keeper came out on top again in his personal duel with Taylor, when the striker went through one on one but Aspinall saved with an outstretched foot.
It looked like AFC would rue their missed chances when on 39 minutes, Pearson pounced on a defensive slip and rifled home from outside the box, to level for City of Liverpool. The visitors responded well and continued to press and as the half drew to a close, Joel Skillen was brought down as he made a run into the area. The referee pointed to the spot and up stepped Taylor to convert the penalty and give AFC a half-time lead.
Again it was AFC who looked likely to add to their tally after the break, as firstly Taylor and then Harry Wright-Ocana both had great chances to score in the opening five minutes of the half. City of Liverpool grew into the game a little and had some good spells of possession but never forced any saves of note from Ben Barnes in the AFC goal, as the defensive line stood firm. The points were secured in the 82nd minute, when strong play from skipper Adam Moorcroft, resulted in the ball falling to Matty Brown who played a great ball to Elliot Taylor who went through and slotted past the keeper for his 18th of the season.
It was no more than The Non-League Reds deserved and the win meant it was five games undefeated. This midweek AFC make the trip to Euxton Villa on Tuesday evening, for our first match against the newcomers to the Premier Division. Kick off is 8:00pm and all support would be welcome.
FINAL SCORE - City of Liverpool 1 v 3 AFC Liverpool
LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Fisher-Jones 6. Hinnigan
7. Jones 8. Starkey 9. Taylor 10. Brown 11. Skillen
Subs used - Lancaster, Davies, Rooney, Smalley, Blankendal
Photos courtesy of Dave Williams
Comments