http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...053.htmSPEARING STARS IN SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER

 

 

 

Paul Hassall at The Halliwell Jones Stadium 20 April 2009

Jay Spearing grabbed a magnificent hat-trick as Liverpool Reserves crashed to a 4-3 defeat against Bolton Wanderers.

The 20-year-old midfielder gave further evidence of his precocious talent with a superb first-half treble but it was not enough to move Gary Ablett's men off the foot of the Barclays Premier League North as the Trotters came from behind on now fewer than three occasions before snatching a winner two minutes from time.

 

It means last season's champions remain rooted to the foot of the table with just two matches remaining.

 

It was a hugely frustrating night for Ablett and co but there were still some positives to be taken from the display, with Spearing adding weight to his claims for more first-team involvement following his impressive cameo against Real Madrid in March.

 

On evening bathed in warm sunshine, it had started so well for the home side too, when Spearing latched onto a well weighted pass and coolly slipped the ball beyond Ali Al Habsi on three minutes.

 

It was a goal that seemed to leave the visitors in a daze and it could have got much worse for them soon after with Gerardo Bruna crashing a long range effort off the bar before Spearing drilled just wide of target.

 

There was certainly a renewed sense of optimism in the Warrington air, but that would ultimately be short-lived as Ariza Makukula took advantage of a misplaced pass from Stephen Darby to power in on goal and clip a sublime finish beyond Martin Hansen to level.

 

Fifteen minutes in and the game was now keenly poised.

 

A corner from the right saw Godwin Antwi head just over while Andras Simon's clever one-two gave him a sight of goal but his effort failed to match the clever approach play.

 

Liverpool continued to look the more likely and Al Habsi got down well to palm Dani Pacheco's low free-kick past the post.

 

As the half wore on a Reds second looked more and more likely and it was no surprise when Spearing grabbed his second of the match on 26 minutes.

 

The midfield dynamo orchestrated the move from the off, exchanging a series of passes with Victor Palsson and Pacheco before powering onto Nemeth's dummy and gleefully steering a low effort into the bottom corner.

 

Such was Spearing's impact on the first 45 that he almost conjured a third with a delicious pass for Nemeth but the Hungarian took too long to compose himself and the chance went begging.

 

It would be a miss that the hosts would later rue as the Trotters pulled level for a second time five minutes before the interval when Cohen nodded in a corner.

 

Most supporters inside the Halliwell Jones Stadium would have assumed that would be the end of the scoring in the first-half, but Liverpool had other ideas.

 

A surging move down the left saw Darby pick out Nemeth who appeared to be caught as he turned in the area. The referee pointed to the spot and up stepped Spearing to complete his hat-trick and cap a magnificent individual display.

 

It had been a highly entertaining first period and the Reds looked to continue their attacking policy as the second 45 got underway, with Simon seeing two good efforts flash just wide.

 

The away side looked most threatening from set pieces and could have drawn level on the hour mark but for the intervention of that man Spearing.

 

Not content with putting the Bolton rearguard to the sword, the midfielder produced a goal-line clearance Jamie Carragher would have been proud of when he dived full-stretch to block Ebi Smolarek's shot after Martin Hansen was caught in no man's land after misreading a long ball.

 

However, not even Spearing could prevent the visitors from drawing level for a third time on 65 minutes when a scramble in the Reds area saw Makukula hit the bar before bundling home from close range.

 

Both sides then had chances to win it, but as the clock ticked down it was Bolton who snatched victory when Makukula seized on a defensive mix-up to claim both his hat-trick and the three points.

 

Liverpool Reserves: Martin Hansen, Emmanuel Gomis Mendy, Stephen Darby, Mikel San Jose Dominguez, Godwin Antwi, Victor Palsson, Jay Spearing, Daniel Pacheco, Krisztian Nemeth (Ryan Crowther 65), Andras Simon (Vitor Flora 82), Gerardo Bruna (Gary Mackay-Steven 72). Unused subs: Dean Bouzanis, Robbie Threlfall.

 

Bolton Wanderers Reserves: Ali Al Habsi, Nicky Hunt, Chris Stokes, Sebastien Puygrenier, Tom Eckersley, Michael O'Halloran (Sam Sheridan 46), Riga, Tamir Cohen, Ariza Makukula, Ebi Smolarek, Nathan Woolfe (Aaron Mooy 56). Unused subs: Rob Lainton, Rhys Bennett, Danny Ward.

Underated that lad

Found his level if you ask me.

can't have it all ways, though

 

smolarek scoring 4 or so against a pub team apparently makes him a world beater

 

i'd guess liverpools reserves would dick san marino

bloody hell our reserve side is better than what we took to lisbon

That article was written by My Spearing (Senior).

 

I am used to one sided reports but that reports is one playersided.

bloody hell our reserve side is better than what we took to lisbon

 

It does look like a strong reserve side on paper

 

Yet a few that aren't good enough to challenge for a 1st team place

 

I think we have a fair few players that need shifting on in the summer

Watched the game and none of em are good enough.

 

Cohen had a shot on goal and it ended up outside the stadium

 

Nicky hunt needs releasing

 

Riga.....I'll not go into that one

It does look like a strong reserve side on paper

 

Yet a few that aren't good enough to challenge for a 1st team place

 

I think we have a fair few players that need shifting on in the summer

 

Other than academy players how many are Megson's signings? And, how many are remnants from Allardyce and Lee?

Edited April 21, 200917 yr by wanderer28

Other than academy players how many are Megson's signings? And, how many are remnants from Allardyce and Lee?

 

I wasn't having a go at Megson...irrelevant of who bought them, we have a fair few "squad fillers"

I wasn't having a go at Megson...irrelevant of who bought them, we have a fair few "squad fillers"

 

I was! Next year perhaps Elmander may be a regular reserve team player with Megson's ability to recognise a good striker. Let's face it attacking football is not his strength. Mind you at the moment neither is defensive football.

Edited April 21, 200917 yr by wanderer28

how many goals have we scored this season?

 

how does that compare with the rest

 

ill let you come back to me

how many goals have we scored this season?

 

how does that compare with the rest

 

ill let you come back to me

 

I think we've probably got enough to stay up, but next season something needs doing to turn some of these defeats into wins or at least draws. Nearly seven out of every ten matches we play this season has seen us getting beat.

 

The team should have been freshened up weeks ago, not wholesale changes, but the gradual introduction of Smolarek, Puygrenier, Hunt who was playing well before Steinsson came and possibly Al Habsi who was the main reason we stayed up. Could be too much of a risk now when we are scrapping for points, should have been done about 2 months ago.

how many goals have we scored this season?

 

how does that compare with the rest

 

ill let you come back to me

 

never noticed that before, only City's home form prevents the clean sweep.

I think we've probably got enough to stay up, but next season something needs doing to turn some of these defeats into wins or at least draws. Nearly seven out of every ten matches we play this season has seen us getting beat.

 

The team should have been freshened up weeks ago, not wholesale changes, but the gradual introduction of Smolarek, Puygrenier, Hunt who was playing well before Steinsson came and possibly Al Habsi who was the main reason we stayed up. Could be too much of a risk now when we are scrapping for points, should have been done about 2 months ago.

 

i was agreeing with you up until that point.

 

For me we need to get those 3 points and then give the squad players chance to prove their worth.

One simple change that will save us at least 10 goals and maybe get us 5 or 6 more points at least is fuck AOB off and bring in a decent CB partner for Cahill. Im sure that is top of Megsons list and we need to back him to find the right players in the summer because i believe he can do it.

One simple change that will save us at least 10 goals and maybe get us 5 or 6 more points at least is fuck AOB off and bring in a decent CB partner for Cahill. Im sure that is top of Megsons list and we need to back him to find the right players in the summer because i believe he can do it.

 

Agree 100% with that. He played well last season but a total liability this one. He also affects the confidence of Cahill who blatantly doesnt have the confidence in his partner.

One simple change that will save us at least 10 goals and maybe get us 5 or 6 more points at least is fuck AOB off and bring in a decent CB partner for Cahill. Im sure that is top of Megsons list and we need to back him to find the right players in the summer because i believe he can do it.

 

quite right Mr Obrien should only see a first team shirt in a crisis and that goes for both of them, Centre back and centre mid are the 2 main prioirties, I would be happy to see 90% of the budget on these 2 positions.

didn't nicky hunt play centre back at one point? surely he could do a job until the end of the season

Can Ali Al Habsi play there?

Can Ali Al Habsi play there?

Better than AOB I would think. Nicky played centre defence for u 21s a couple of times, cant recall him doing it for us. I would try Steinsson there and Nicky at full back.

Better than AOB I would think. Nicky played centre defence for u 21s a couple of times, cant recall him doing it for us. I would try Steinsson there and Nicky at full back.

 

Ah, Steinsson, another over-rated player IMO.

Wears his heart on his sleeve. Frequently caught out of position.

I think we've probably got enough to stay up, but next season something needs doing to turn some of these defeats into wins or at least draws. Nearly seven out of every ten matches we play this season has seen us getting beat.

 

The team should have been freshened up weeks ago, not wholesale changes, but the gradual introduction of Smolarek, Puygrenier, Hunt who was playing well before Steinsson came and possibly Al Habsi who was the main reason we stayed up. Could be too much of a risk now when we are scrapping for points, should have been done about 2 months ago.

 

Aye, get Al Habsi in. That Jaaskelainen fella has been absolutly feckin' shite.

Ah, Steinsson, another over-rated player IMO.

Wears his heart on his sleeve. Frequently caught out of position.

 

That's a pretty fair assessment of him.

 

Has only been marginally (if at all) better than Hunt recently.

how many goals have we scored this season?

 

how does that compare with the rest

 

ill let you come back to me

 

I'll come back to you. Your comment is as relevant as how many goals have we conceded.

 

My criticism was of how much money in transfer fees and wages that we are wasting on Megson's bad signings (permanent or loan) compared to his good buys (Steinson, Cahill and Taylor). The particular point that I was making is that I don't think he has acquitted himself well in finding a striker which is an area that he has spent disproportionately the most money.