Friendly Report: Cork City 0 - 2 Liverpool Development Squad

On a damp and showery night at Turners Cross, Liverpool’s development squad recorded a well-deserved victory over Cork City. A large crowd of Irish based Reds supporters will be encouraged by what they saw from the club’s stars of the future. On the basis of the display, there are at least a few who could be playing at Anfield for the first team at some stage in the future.

Toni Gomes gave Liverpool the lead in the 16^th minute, mainly thanks to the creativity of Bobby Adekanye. The player signed from Barcelona showed that he is one to watch for the future as he was involved in most of what Liverpool did well in the first half. While Yan Dianda got the second goal for the Merseysiders.

One of the major aspects of the night which City will take away from it is the performance of City keeper Alan Smith. He produced a number of fine saves and proved that he is a good replacement should anything happen to Mark McNulty in the near future.

Cork used the game as an opportunity to use a few players on trial with the club. Other than that, there was a mixture of players from City’s U19 and first teams.  

Liverpool’s Development squad started the brighter of the two sides. Callum Nicholas and Adekanye were looking lively down their respective wings in the early stages, both showing their skill and good passing ability as they tried to find an opening goal. The pair both looked a threat any time they had the ball throughout the half and along with Gomes, they were always a danger for Cork.

Liverpool took the lead on 16 minutes, when Gomes was on hand to knock the ball home after stretching his foot out to beat City defender Conor McCarthy to the ball. Adekanye did very well to set up the goal, showing the lightening pace he has to beat City full back for the night Saki, and put the cross into the box.

City showed glimpses of what they could, but it was the English side who were the dominant side in terms of creating chances. Ben Woodburn’s shot was saved by Smith in the 33^rd minute, following good link up play from Nicholas and Adekanye once again.

Cork struggled to put any meaningful attacks together overall during the opening 45 minutes. Normally second in command for the goalkeepers jersey, Smith made a good impression overall and did his very best, making numerous top saves.

Nicholas showed his immense composure in the 39^th minute, when under pressure from the City defence, he got his shot away but Smith did very good to save.

Following a spell on the bench recently, Gavan Holohan was keen to make the most of the time on the Turners Cross pitch for City. Just before the break, he went on a menacing run towards the Liverpool box but his shot was saved well by Wheeler.

Liverpool came out for the second half with a completely different starting eleven. Smith remained in goal for City and he made yet another top save in the opening minutes of the second half.

Dianda was another player for Liverpool who looked purposeful with the ball at his feet and was Liverpool’s standout performer in the second half.

Caulfield introduced more of the under 19’s in the form of the likes of Ellis and Gill to try and search for an equaliser. It was Ellis who made an impact right away, crossing for Danny Morrissey, who just headed wide as he dived in for the ball.

Liverpool made it 2-0 in the 71^st minute, as it was Dianda who got on the end of a ball from Masterson over the top and he slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Late on, Morrissey went close for Cork, but he shot into the side netting after he went around Caiomhin Kelleher in the Liverpool goal. Danny O’Connell did well to carve out a chance in stoppage time. But it wasn’t to be for Cork, as they will hope the game time given to some of the fringe players will benefit Cork in their run in to the SSE Airtricity League campaign.

Cork City: Alan Smith (Kevin O’Brian, 71); Newadi Saki(Cian Coleman, 62), Michael McSweeney, Conor McCarthy; Timmy Murphy(George Gill, 57); Liam Kearney(Kevin Taylor, 75), Gavan Holohan, Steven Beattie(Danny O’Connell 62), Jean Black(Craig Donnellan, HT); Rob Lehane(Danny Morrissey,35), Kaid Mohamed(Connor Ellis, 62).

Subs Not Used: John O’Flynn.

Liverpool XI First Half:  Owen Wheeler, Kane Lewis, Kris Owens, Michael Parker, Corey Whelan; Herbie Kane, Callum Nicholas,  Ben Woodburn, Toni Gomes, Brad Garton, Bobbi Adekanye.

Liverpool XI Second Half :  Caoimhin Kelleher; Liam Coyle, Conor Masterson, George Johnston, Josh Dobie; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Okera Simmonds, Jack Watts, Jamie Ahearne ; Rhian Brewster, Yan Dianda.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 4,355.

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Alan Smith (Cork City).