Neil Mellor scored twice and could have had about five as he helped Liverpool Reserves beat Manchester United 2-0, at Altrincham FC's Moss Lane.
Both Mellor goals came in the first half and the Reds number nine was superb and came so close to the hat-trick he deserved. Manchester United fielded a young team but the side contained some talented young players.
The match was played in a terrential downpour and in the second half the pitch became heavy making passing the ball far from easy.
Markus Babbel played well and completed another 90 minutes, Djimi Traore also played well at centre half and defensive partner Igor Biscan gave a classy display. Stephen Warnock was excellent at left back but for Bruno Cheyrou it was an indifferent evening for the French international.
Mellor scored two goals in the space of two first half minutes. The first goal arrived on 10 minutes. Robbie Foy made a superb run down the right wing and produced a great cross. United defender Lee Roche, aware of Mellor's presence, seemed to be put off by the threat of the Reds striker who muscled him out of the way before finding the net from close range to put Liverpool in front.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 and another goal for the boy Mellor. A fine Liverpool move saw Mark Peers go on a run down the right, and from his superb cross Mellor produced a brilliant finish to give James Jowsey no chance.
Igor Biscan then went on a dazzling run from his own half when he beat five defenders before being fouled, but amazingly the decision went United's way and the Croatian was booked for dissent!
Mellor then went close to his hat-trick. One fine run by Foy down the right saw Mellor just beaten to a certain goal by an excellent stop by Jowsey. On 18 minutes Mellor chased a loose ball and beat Jowsey to it, but to the keepers' credit he got back and saved at Mellor's feet.
United went close on 27 minutes when Pegguy Arphexad came out to the edge of his box, missed the ball and Colin Hrath's effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by Djimi Traore.
Then in the space of two minutes United went even closer when Keiran Richardson twice hit the bar with scorching drives from 25-yards out, then a blistering 35-yard drive but was unlucky on two occasions.
At the start of the second half Mellor was inches away from a hat-trick. Peers picked him out with a superb free-kick delivery from the right and Mellor powered a header just wide of Jowsey's goal.
Mellor then went on a solo run after 65 minutes when he cut in from the left but saw his shot well blocked by Roche.
Substitute Darren Potter went close for Liverpool three minutes later when he drove just wide with a fine effort from 25-yards out.
Pegguy Arphexad then showed his qualities on 78 minutes with the save of the night, somehow keeping out Jimmy Davis scorching drive from the edge of the box.
Mellor was unlucky once more two minutes from time when he glanced another header inches wide with the goalkeeper Jowsey well beaten. It would have been a great goal but two goals again for Mellor is not a bad night's work! It's 12 goals in 13 appearances for the second string this season.
Liverpool Reserves: Arphexad, Foley-Sheridan, Warnock, Traore, Biscan, Babbel, Peers (Otsemobor 86), Welsh (Potter 54), Mellor, Foy, Cheyrou. Subs not used: Luzi, Vaughan, Whitbread, Massie.
Manchester United Reserves: Jowsey, Lynch, Rankin, Roche, Pugh, Fletcher, Davis, Fox, Nardiello, Hrath, Richardson.
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match Neil Mellor. Two great strikers goals and just a shame he couldn't get the hat-trick he deserved. Djimi Traore played well too and a special mention for Stephen Warnock who was excellent at left back.
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Strange things happening at our reserves... Biscan dribbling past 5 players, Babbel...
But Neil Mellor! We must start him in Heskey's place!
Both Mellor goals came in the first half and the Reds number nine was superb and came so close to the hat-trick he deserved. Manchester United fielded a young team but the side contained some talented young players.
The match was played in a terrential downpour and in the second half the pitch became heavy making passing the ball far from easy.
Markus Babbel played well and completed another 90 minutes, Djimi Traore also played well at centre half and defensive partner Igor Biscan gave a classy display. Stephen Warnock was excellent at left back but for Bruno Cheyrou it was an indifferent evening for the French international.
Mellor scored two goals in the space of two first half minutes. The first goal arrived on 10 minutes. Robbie Foy made a superb run down the right wing and produced a great cross. United defender Lee Roche, aware of Mellor's presence, seemed to be put off by the threat of the Reds striker who muscled him out of the way before finding the net from close range to put Liverpool in front.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 and another goal for the boy Mellor. A fine Liverpool move saw Mark Peers go on a run down the right, and from his superb cross Mellor produced a brilliant finish to give James Jowsey no chance.
Igor Biscan then went on a dazzling run from his own half when he beat five defenders before being fouled, but amazingly the decision went United's way and the Croatian was booked for dissent!
Mellor then went close to his hat-trick. One fine run by Foy down the right saw Mellor just beaten to a certain goal by an excellent stop by Jowsey. On 18 minutes Mellor chased a loose ball and beat Jowsey to it, but to the keepers' credit he got back and saved at Mellor's feet.
United went close on 27 minutes when Pegguy Arphexad came out to the edge of his box, missed the ball and Colin Hrath's effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by Djimi Traore.
Then in the space of two minutes United went even closer when Keiran Richardson twice hit the bar with scorching drives from 25-yards out, then a blistering 35-yard drive but was unlucky on two occasions.
At the start of the second half Mellor was inches away from a hat-trick. Peers picked him out with a superb free-kick delivery from the right and Mellor powered a header just wide of Jowsey's goal.
Mellor then went on a solo run after 65 minutes when he cut in from the left but saw his shot well blocked by Roche.
Substitute Darren Potter went close for Liverpool three minutes later when he drove just wide with a fine effort from 25-yards out.
Pegguy Arphexad then showed his qualities on 78 minutes with the save of the night, somehow keeping out Jimmy Davis scorching drive from the edge of the box.
Mellor was unlucky once more two minutes from time when he glanced another header inches wide with the goalkeeper Jowsey well beaten. It would have been a great goal but two goals again for Mellor is not a bad night's work! It's 12 goals in 13 appearances for the second string this season.
Liverpool Reserves: Arphexad, Foley-Sheridan, Warnock, Traore, Biscan, Babbel, Peers (Otsemobor 86), Welsh (Potter 54), Mellor, Foy, Cheyrou. Subs not used: Luzi, Vaughan, Whitbread, Massie.
Manchester United Reserves: Jowsey, Lynch, Rankin, Roche, Pugh, Fletcher, Davis, Fox, Nardiello, Hrath, Richardson.
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match Neil Mellor. Two great strikers goals and just a shame he couldn't get the hat-trick he deserved. Djimi Traore played well too and a special mention for Stephen Warnock who was excellent at left back.
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Strange things happening at our reserves... Biscan dribbling past 5 players, Babbel...
But Neil Mellor! We must start him in Heskey's place!
