NGOG SHINES FOR FIVE-STAR REDS
Paul Hassall at The Halliwell Jones Stadium 29 April 2009
Liverpool Reserves are guaranteed not to finish bottom of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North after a convincing 5-1 win over Newcastle on Wednesday night.
Goals from Mikel San Jose, David Ngog, Damien Plessis and substitute Daniel Pacheco (2) ensured Gary Ablett's men ended a difficult season in style and capped a fine week in which the second-string also claimed the Liverpool Senior Cup.
The victory means Bolton Wanderers will now finish below the Reds who could yet end up as high as seventh, should results go their way.
Ahead of the match Ablett named the likes of Nabil El Zhar, Ngog and Philipp Degen in a strong side that looked well capable of getting the win they required.
The incentive was there for all to see and Liverpool made their intentions clear with a superb first-half display that quite simply blew the Magpies away.
The first shot of the match fell the way of the home side, although Nabil El Zhar's optimistic 30 yard volley flew way over the top of Ole Soderberg's goal.
It may not have been the best of efforts but it was a clear indication of how the remainder of the half would pan out.
With Ngog looking lively up top, the Reds began to stretch the Newcastle backline and on 11 minutes the young striker used the overlapping run of Degen to his advantage before cutting in and cracking a near post effort that was touched just wide by Soderberg.
It was a fine save, but one that served only to delay the inevitable as the home side went in front from the resulting corner. Gerardo Bruna sent a swirling ball to the far post where San Jose rose well to force a header home.
The Reserve champions have found goals hard to come by all season, but it was difficult to see why on this evidence and it wasn't long before they doubled their advantage on the quarter of an hour mark.
Once again the dangerous Ngog was at the heart of it. The Frenchman picked up long ball on the left, powered past his marker and fired a low shot into the far corner.
It was a stunning piece of play and a finish that again highlighted the potential of the 20-year-old.
At this point the hosts were well worth their two-goal cushion and it could so easily have been three on 20 minutes, but Bruna saw his searing free-kick crash back off the woodwork with Soderberg rooted to the spot.
The Argentine's luck may well have been out with a direct route to goal, but he did get his second assist of the match just eight minutes later when his sublime near post free-kick was touched in by Plessis.
Less than half an hour played and Liverpool were already out of sight.
The shell-shocked Geordies did improve as the half came to a close, but the Reds rearguard held firm to maintain their three goal lead at the interval.
With the three points in the bag the second 45 was a less rewarding spectacle. Newcastle improved and could have reduced the arrears through the dangerous Nile Ranger but San Jose and co did well to keep him at bay.
It seemed to be Liverpool's night and after the highly-rated Nikola Saric made his Reds bow with an impressive cameo, fellow substitute Pacheco made it four with a sublime free-kick from 25 yards.
It looked like being the end of the scoring until the Geordies finally grabbed a consolation when Haris Vuckic prodded home after a goalmouth scramble.
The response did little to dampen Liverpool's spirits and they made sure they had the last word two minutes from time when Pacheco raced clean through to coolly fire in the fifth.
Liverpool Reserves: Dean Bouzanis, Philipp Degen (Emmanuel Gomis Mendy 70), Stephen Darby, Mikel San Jose Dominguez, Daniel Ayala, Victor Palsson, Damien Plessis, Andras Simon, Gerardo Bruna, Nabil El Zhar (Daniel Pacheco 65), David Ngog (Nikola Saric 80). Unused subs: Martin Hansen, Vincent Weijl.
Newcastle United Reserves: Ole Soderberg, Philip Airey, Darren Lough, Ben Tozer, James Tavernier, Wesley Ngo Baheng, Ryan Donaldson, Nile Ranger, Xisco (Jonathan Godsmark 62), Frank Danquah, Haris Vuckic. Unused subs: Mark Doninger, Bradden Inman, Matthew Grieve, James Taylor.
Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: David Ngog. A constant threat and took his goal with aplomb.
Great win tonight to finish off the season with a goal feast, I'd be more than happy with that scoreline for the first team on Sunday
Well played David N'Gog and two goals from Pacheco, great stuff lads, let's hope next season isn't so much of a struggle, and the goals come a bit more freely.
