AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool battle to Harrogate draw in Bristol Street Motors Trophy
Liverpool U21s continued their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign with a battling 1-1 draw against Harrogate Town at the Exercise Stadium on Tuesday night.
James Norris’ precise finish 15 minutes from time cancelled out Jack Muldoon’s earlier header, which had given the League Two side the advantage in front of a 3,000-strong crowd just before the half-time whistle.
That left a bonus point up for grabs in a post-match penalty shootout. Terence Miles saw his opening effort saved and Trent Kone-Doherty hit the bar, leaving the hosts to claim the added spoils with a 4-2 win on penalties, as Tommy Pilling and Josh Davidson netted for the Reds.
Barry Lewtas’ outfit had a solid look to them with player-coach Jay Spearing making a start in midfield alongside captain Dominic Corness and Michael Laffey.
Kone-Doherty and Kieran Morrison offered pace and width, though the Reds found it difficult to create during a tight first half.
It was Josh Falkingham for the home side who offered the first threat on goal, a powerful strike five minutes in that rose too high to bother goalkeeper Harvey Davies.
An inswinging corner was the next danger posed by the hosts, the ball eventually scrambled away from under their own crossbar by the Reds.
Ellis Taylor connected with a cutback to test Davies again, but the goalkeeper was in the perfect position to gather just before the 20-minute mark.
Liverpool at this stage were enjoying plenty of possession but struggling to threaten the Harrogate goal, a couple of lightning bursts from Kone-Doherty offering the most likely outlet.
On the half-hour, Corness swung in a good free-kick that eluded Mark Oxley in the home net, but Keyrol Figueroa had failed to anticipate the ball coming his way in a great position.
Davies gathered low from Stephen Duke-McKenna’s effort, while Zico Asare almost lived up to his illustrious name with a shot that skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Just when it seemed likely to be goalless at the break, Harrogate struck to take a lead into the interval.
A fine ball in from the right saw Muldoon beat the offside trap with an unmarked run and power his header past Davies.
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The Reds needed a second-half response, though Harrogate almost doubled their advantage 10 minutes in, Davies at full stretch to palm away the curling effort from Taylor.
A fine run from Morrison on the right offered hope of brighter things to come for Liverpool as head coach Lewtas made a triple substitution in search of an equaliser.
And it almost came instantly from the lively Kone-Doherty, the winger cutting in off his flank to drag a shot just wide.
Oxley then spilled a loose defensive header with Oakley Cannonier closing in, before the visitors struck to restore parity.
Harrogate missed out on a huge breakaway chance from a Reds corner and paid the price after being caught in possession.
Liverpool recovered the ball to Kone-Doherty, who fed Norris in for a tidy, low left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
That left the match all to play for in the last 15 minutes, though Warren Burrell’s header for Harrogate was the closest either side came to a winner ahead of the bonus-point penalty shootout.
TEAM
Davies, Miles, Norris, Lucky, Pinnington, Corness (Kelly, 85), Laffey (Davidson, 65), Spearing (Pilling, 65), Kone-Doherty, Morrison, Figueroa (Cannonier, 65).
Unused subs: Misciur, Nallo.
NEXT UP
The Reds face a swift turnaround as they return to action at Arsenal on Friday night (September 27) in Premier League 2.
Supporters can watch the 7pm BST kick-off from Boreham Wood live via LFCTV GO.
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