Reserves slip to Latics loss
7th Apr 2010
Liverpool Reserves missed the chance to move level on points at the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North following a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Wigan on Wednesday night.
Gerardo Bruna had put the Reds in the driving seat midway through the first-half, coolly converting from the spot after Alex Cooper's rampaging run from left-back had been abruptly halted by Adam Buxton.
However, the hosts responded with an impressive second-half revival and were back on terms courtesy of substitute Kelvin Hare's scrambled finish within seconds of the restart.
Wigan then sealed the points with two goals in a minute just after the hour mark before substitute Nikolaj Kolhert set up an exciting finale with a superb drive.
The result means John McMahon's side have lost their first league match since the opening day clash at Blackburn Rovers and leaves them three points behind Manchester United having played a game less.
Liverpool had gone into the encounter with the knowledge that a victory would give them a huge edge in the title race, and the extra incentive saw them dominate throughout the first period.
On five minutes Francisco Duran went close with a teasing effort from distance before Chris Mavinga looped a far post header from a right wing corner onto the roof of the net.
Wigan responded with their only real effort of the half, when Callum McManaman showed the type of skills that made his namesake Steve such a Kop favourite. The winger's dazzling run took him beyond several challenges before he curled a shot just wide of Peter Gulacsi's right-hand post on 22 minutes.
If the hosts felt it would see them gain a foothold in the game, they would be disappointed, however, as the Reds poured forward again four minutes later and took a deserved lead.
The ever-lively Cooper burst onto Bruna's return pass on the left edge of the area and went down under a late challenge from Buxton. Bruna stepped up and sent Lee Nicholls the wrong way with a superbly taken kick.
The first 45 had been all Liverpool, but having failed to add a second, there was always the chance the home side would step up a gear after half-time.
Indeed, Wigan could claim an inspired substitution, as Hare came off the bench to draw them level with his first touch of the match, after Gulacsi had almost denied them with a sensational triple save.
Liverpool pushed forward again and Lauri Dalla Valle was unlucky not to restore their lead when he latched onto Jordy Brouwer's flick and produced a sensational bycycle kick that flew inches past the upright.
Bruna then drove into the box from the left and should have picked out either Dalla Valle or Brouwer. Unfortunately for the away side, he chose neither and his deflected shot dribbled wide of the near post.
It proved to be a decisive moment as Tomasz Kupisz finished off a lightning break on 67 minutes to put the hosts ahead, before the Pole set up Daniel Redmond for the third just seconds later.
Kolhert made it a lively finish when he came off the bench to net from distance 10 minutes from time, but there was to be no late leveller on this occasion, and Wigan held on to secure the points.
Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Mendy, Cooper, Mavinga, Palsson, Irwin, Duran (Kolhert 78), Amoo (Saric 70), Bruna, Brouwer, Dalla Valle (Kacaniklic 62). Unused subs: Oldfield, Sokolik.
Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Alex Cooper. A lively first-half display.
Author: Paul Hassall
Disappointing I guess to lose tonight, but the lads should feel proud of themselves, to go unbeaten since we lost the first match of the season is some record, so well done to John McMahon and the boys.
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