23rd Mar – Liverpool 1 – 0 Hull City (Premier Reserve League North) – Daniel Ayala was superb at the back as Liverpool Reserves beat Hull 1-0 at North Ferriby United’s ground. The hosts never recovered from Jordy Brouwer’s fantastic early strike on seven minutes when his right foot shot went in from 25 yards out. The game saw the Reserves keep their fifth straight clean sheet, a fantastic achievement considering the quality of the opposition that the young Reds team faced. Hull’s team included two first team regulars in Seyi Olofinjana and Kamel Ghilas, and the team’s defensive display were all the more impressive considering two Academy players started the match at full back. John Flanagan, who was given the man of the match award by LFC TV, and Alex Cooper started their first reserve matches for the club and Reserve Coach John McMahon was impressed by the entire backline:
“For me that was our best performance of the season. Ayala and Palsson were terrific at the back aided by good performances from the two Academy lads making their debuts.”
The confidence that the early goal gave the Reds meant that Hull never really got into the game in the first half, and Ayala & Co dealt with the threat from the Tigers with ease. The home side offered a lot more in the second half though and they had their chances to equalise. Tom Cairney forced a save from Peter Gulacsi immediately after the half-time break while both Mark Cullen and Olofinjana shot narrowly wide. The best chance for Liverpool’s opponents came three minutes from time when Ghilas managed to shoot wide from close range. In the end though, it was deserved victory for the Reds and their amazing run since they lost on the opening day of the season continues. Central to this has been Ayala’s solid performances at the back and you can’t ask for more than 5 clean sheets in a row.
