Hammill magic ends Stoke's run
Sep 27 2005
Academy Football with Chris Wright, Daily Post
ADAM HAMMILL'S stunning solo goal and some excellent goalkeeping by Paul Lancaster saw Liverpool under-18s record their fifth victory in six matches as they won 1-0 at Stoke City.
John Owens's side dominated much of the first half and Hammill's strike just before the break put them in front. The 17-year-old winger went on a trademark mazy dribble from 40 yards out straight at the heart of the Stoke defence, beating five players before slotting past the keeper.
It could have been more in the first half as Conal Platt twice broke through on the keeper only to have his shots saved.
In the second half Stoke, unbeaten going into the match, rallied and put Liverpool under sustained pressure. But Lancaster, back for his first full match since recovering after a knee operation, was in superb form.
Owens was delighted with the performance. He said: "Stoke hadn't lost - they had won two and drawn three - so we expected a tough game and it was.
"In the first half we had a number of chances and we could easily have been ahead by a few goals.
"But in the second half they were pushing for an equaliser and put us under a lot of pressure. Paul Lancaster had a tremendous game."
He added: "It was a physical battle, not dirty. The younger boys, the under-16s from last year, won't have experienced as intense a battle as that and it was good experience for them."
The one downside was the injury to central defender Robbie Threlfall, who had to go off on the hour with knee ligament damage.
No timescale has been placed on his return, but it is likely to be up to four months.
Despite having a bigger squad than normal, injuries to Jordan Holmes and Jay Spearing mean Liverpool have only three recognised defenders fit at the Academy.
Owens added: "We will have to look at making one or two play indifferent positions."
LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Lancaster; Behan, Woods, Threlfall (Barnett 60), Darby; Barrett, Ryan, F Smith, Hammill; Platt (Nardiello 70), Frayne (Lindfield 75). Subs: Roberts, Platt
