On a wet night, Westmorland County FA travelled to Merseyside for their opening game in the ANC Youth Competition.

Their was little to choose between the two teams in the opening phase of the game as the game went end to end.

The first chance of the game fell to Liverpool's Luke Wilson-Jones, but Westmorland keeper Kieran Sill saved well with his legs.  The visiting keeper was again in the action on 25 minutes when he saved Jack O'Leary's shot.
Immediately at the other end Regan Coates shot just wide and Josh Casson shot just wide on 26 minutes, again at 40 minutes Matthew Clarke saw his shot go just wide.

As it looked like the game would go into half time all square, Liverpool snatched the lead when Jack Hazelhurst grasped onto a mistake by the Westmorland defense and shot home.  Liverpool could have increased their lead on 43 minutes, as the same player shot wide.

Half Time: Liverpool County FA 1, Westmorland County FA 0

The home side started the second half strong and substitute for Westmorland Joe Fiddler saved a header from Declan Gallagher.  At the other end skipper Sam Harrison headed a straight at the Liverpool keeper Keiren Young on the 56 minutes, on 65 minutes Fiddler again saved a free kick from the edge of the penalty area very well.  The visitors could have got on level terms when Will Booth was brought down by the home keeper Young in the penalty area but Casson saw his resulting penalty well saved on 75 minutes with just four minutes remaining Booth turned well on the edge of the penalty area, but his ferrous shot from 20 yards rattled the cross bar.

Full Time: Liverpool County FA 1, Westmorland County FA 0

Manager George Gudgeon was delighted with his teams performance against a strong Liverpool side as we look forward to the home game against Cheshire FA on Saturday 3 December 2016.

Teams:

Referee: S Morland
Assistant Referees: J Deakin, J Marsh