UNDER-18S HELD DESPITE PEPPER BRILLIANCE
Adam Pepper scored a sensational goal from the halfway line as Liverpool under-18s were held to a 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers at the Academy this afternoon.
The all-action midfielder put the Reds in front with a sublime 45 yard lob that Xabi Alonso would have been proud of on 55 minutes after Joe Kennedy had cancelled out Michael Hall's first-half opener.
It was a strike that would have been more than worthy of being the winning goal, but unfortunately for Hugh McAuley's men, they could not hold onto their advantage and just past the hour mark Rovers grabbed a share of the spoils courtesy of Tom Hitchcock.
It marked a dramatic conclusion to the match with the second 45 in complete contrast to a dour first period in which the visitors had edged it.
Blackburn had started on the front foot and looked the more lively throughout the opening exchanges, but it was Liverpool who had the game's first real effort of note when David Amoo's low drive from the edge of the box was well saved by Bjorn Bussman at his near post.
It did little to inspire much improvement in terms of goalmouth activity as Nathan Eccleston's flick header from a right-wing corner and Amoo's tame effort were the nearest the Reds would come to troubling the Rovers stopper for the remainder of the first 45.
The windy conditions weren't helping matters either and as the half wore on it looked more and more likely that the breakthrough would come as a result of a mistake.
Unfortunately for the Reds it was Blackburn who benefitted from one on 35 minutes when the hosts lost possession inside the centre circle and were undone by a lightning Rovers break that finished with Michael Hall drilling in from a tight angle.
It was the highlight of the first-half and, with that in mind you could not have blamed the supporters lining the perimeter of the pitch for wishing they had remained at home to watch the build-up to the first-team's clash at Manchester United instead.
A vast improvement was required going into the second-half and within three minutes the Reds had given a signal of their intent with the equaliser.
Pepper's swerving corner from the left deceived both the Rovers rearguard and the keeper, allowing Kennedy to swoop in unmarked at the back post to slide the ball home.
It gave the hosts the belief they had been missing and just seven minutes later Pepper capped a typically industrious display with a sublime lobbed effort from the centre circle. It was the type of attempt Alonso has made his trademark and it was the least Liverpool deserved for their post-interval endeavour.
However, the away side picked themselves up, and after enduring a few nervy moments when the Reds threatened a third, they drew level on 64 minutes.
A swift move down the left exposed the home side's defence, allowing Tom Hitchcock to pounce and gleefully sweep the ball past Martin Hansen in the Liverpool goal.
It was a hugely frustrating moment for the Reds, who continued to push forward and could have regained the lead on at least two occasions when both Pepper and Eccleston should have done better when presented with a clear shot at goal.
With time running out the hosts looked the more likely, but it wasn't to be, and Rovers held on to claim a hard-fought point.
Liverpool under 18s: Martin Hansen, Michael Scott, Chris Buchtmann, Andre Wisdom, Joe Kennedy, Michael Roberts, David Amoo, Adam Pepper, Nathan Eccleston, Karl Clair (Jack Robinson 66), Tom Ince. Unused subs: Alex Cooper, Deale Chamberlain, Connor Roberts-Nurse.
