Liverpool Ladies U16s progressed
to The FA Youth Cup semi-finals on Saturday, beating Aston Villa Ladies U16s
4-1.
The young Reds sealed their
league title last weekend and ensured their winning streak continued here;
Blanchard hit a hat trick and also bagged an assist to set up Willis, before
Villa struck a late consolation.
During the opening five minutes
each side looked to carve out opportunities at each end of the pitch, Hickey
had to be wise to the run of Villa’s number 9 while Liverpool goalkeeper Gordon
also denied the Villa forward – strongly blocking a strike with her feet at the
near post.
For Liverpool, U16 captain Kearns
was instrumental in the middle of the field - a crunching challenge early on
earning the Reds possession that led to a cross from Willis skimming the head
of Pike.
It was Kearns who had the first
attempt at goal for the Reds, a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box beaten
away by the Villa ‘keeper and Blanchard unable to get a hold of the rebound.
Liverpool were passing the ball
around well and beginning to dominate possession, a lovely turn from
Fitzpatrick almost set Blanchard through on goal only for the ‘keeper to be
quick off her line to intercept the pass.
Blanchard wasn’t to be denied for
long however and soon opened the scoring; Kearns had picked out the run of
Willis on the left wing, Willis then found Blanchard with a low cross who in
turn found the back of the net to put Liverpool ahead.
The Reds forward then turned provider
for the second just two minutes later, returning the favour to tee up Willis
who finished a great team move that had built up from Gordon.
Villa responded but could only
watch as Gordon denied them at every turn, quick off her line to claw the ball
away from the feet of the attacker, down at the near post to block a low strike
and stretching to push a shot destined for the top corner wide.
Ahead of Gordon in central
defence Beard and Roberts also put in a good shift, assisted by Parry in
defensive midfield just ahead of them. Beard getting just enough on a Villa
cross to allow Gordon to gather the loose ball and Beard showing excellent
awareness to shield the ball back to the ‘keeper on more than one occasion.
Midway through the first half
Blanchard struck again, her initial effort was saved by the goalkeeper but the
number 9 scored from her own rebound to make it 3-0.
Liverpool continued to threaten
as they kicked off the second half, Kearns with a clever ball out to Pike who
almost found Blanchard - only for the offside flag to be raised - and Parry
breaking up play at the back to kick start an attack that ended with
Fitzpatrick’s hit being tipped around the post.
With twenty minutes left on the
clock Blanchard had her hat trick with the pick of the afternoon’s goals. The
striker latched onto a pass from Willis to flick the ball up for herself and
fired across the ‘keeper into the bottom right corner.
Full back Boydell has recently
made the step up to the club’s Development Squad and almost found herself on
the score sheet here, flashing the ball wide following a sweeping Reds move
that was again orchestrated by Kearns in the middle.
A quintet of Reds came from the
bench to help their counterparts see the game through to the final whistle,
Binks, Barlow and Fenton on for Boydell, Beard and Hickey while Scholefield and
Dudley-Jones replaced Fitzpatrick and Willis in attack.
As the game came to a close
Villa’s number 14 came from the bench to slot the ball home, the goal however a
late consolation and Liverpool comfortably into the semi-finals.
Liverpool Ladies U16: Gordon, Boydell (Binks), Roberts, Beard
(Barlow), Hickey (Fenton), Parry, Kearns ©, Fitzpatrick (Scholefield), Pike,
Blanchard, Willis (Dudley-Jones)
