Liverpool booked their place in the 2015 Junior Section semi-finals courtesy of a narrow 2-1 win over Swindon Town in Portstewart. The League One side however will feel unfortunate to have come away from the fixture with nothing.
Town started the brighter of the two sides and from an early free-kick, Louis Owens swung a fine cross into the penalty box that was put out for a corner. Another fine delivery into the box was not properly dealt with by the Liverpool defence, allowing Matthew Botham to get a shot away which was fortunately blocked. The impressive Glen McCauley then sparked Liverpool into action with a pacy run down the left wing, beating one defender but was unable to deliver a cross to challenge the Robins goalkeeper Louis Owens. More careless defending then afforded Swindon another chance, Sahlin Abubakar and Sol Pryce linking well inside their opponent’s half to set up Luke Haines who tested goalkeeper Luis Longstaff with a solid strike.
The opening goal deservedly went to Swindon, when Jayden Bogle received the ball just inside the Liverpool penalty area and fired a shot hard into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. Liverpool then went on the attack, Elijah Dixon-Bonner finding McCauley free on the left wing again, and his low cross into the box just needed a final touch. Liverpool were knocking on the door now and their equaliser came just before the interval when Paul Glatzel chipped a shot over the Swindon goalkeeper, and Alex Turner was on hand for the simple headed finish.
The second half was an entertaining affair with both sides having chances – Swindon’s Pryce in particular was working hard to threaten the Liverpool goal. The Anfield side took the lead from the penalty spot, when some patient build up play and neat passing forced a foul inside the area. The penalty was delivered low, and just got squeezed past goalkeeper Owens.
A fine match in the late afternoon sunshine in Portstewart in front of a large crowd. Liverpool march on to the semi-finals where they will face fellow English outfit Southampton.