Boys' U16A v Bolton

Date: Saturday 21st November

Venue:

Away. Depart 11.40am

Team:

Adams (C), Carr (C) capt., Prutton (C), Winfield (C), Chaffey (L), Chandler (N), McEnery (O), Jopson (P), Croson (S), Findlay (S), Welch (S).

Result:

Bolton 2 - 2 Repton

Match Report:

Rafa Benitez has had a torrid time at Liverpool of late, and after no win in three games, I was beginning to feel the same sort of pressure, approaching this match. Still, Rafa doesn't have anything like the selection crisis I do: his team bus at least has a full squad plus subs for each fixture; 40 minutes after we were due to leave for Bolton, I still didn't have a starting XI...

Ironically - or spookily, perhaps - the Bolton-Repton U16A fixture mirrored the 'other' great match in the North-West that day between Liverpool and Man City. Both ended 2-2, with one side taking the lead, then going down 2-1, only to equalise within a minute, with neither side able to claim victory at the end.

We were Liverpool: a goal-kick from Carr was flicked on by Chandler's head past the opposition's defensive line, and Winfield outpaced all to bury the ball past the 'keeper. Bolton (or was it City in disguise?) equalised before half-time from a swift counter-attack that caught the centre-backs out of position, followed by a breakaway run in the second half and a shot past an uncharacteristically dozy Carr. Within a minute, however, a foul earned us a free kick, Chandler's super ball into the box connecting with Chaffey's head to restore parity.

But, really, we ought not to have been Liverpool. We played like Spurs, demolishing Wigan 9-1. Except we drew.

Passing was slick (difficult on a turgid pitch); movement was excellent; we were a cohesive team unit and must have had 20 attacks on goal in the match. However without Sunner, our very own Defoe, we struggled to score, and Prutton and Winfield both had cast-iron penalty shouts ignored. Even the opposition coach was kind enough to say 'You wuz robbed' at the end.

I bet Mark Hughes didn't say that to Rafa.

JMJH

Goals: Winfield (5), Chaffey (41)