Marsh hat-trick sets up big U18s victory
Liverpool U18s returned to winning ways in the finest style on Saturday as Will Marsh struck a hat-trick and Sergi Canos added two more in a 5-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers at the Kirkby Academy.
The young Reds entered the fixture on the back of successive defeats by Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but summoned a stellar performance to claim victory today.
Neil Critchley's team took the lead within 10 minutes of kick-off, with Marsh beginning his scoring spree by carefully dispatching a lob from distance over Rovers goalkeeper Andrew Fisher after he advanced from his position and squandered possession.
The stopper was placed much better to thwart the same Liverpool attacker shortly after, while the visiting outfit twice worked Andrew Firth with headers at the other end - Lewis Mansell and Matty Platt were the players denied.
Blackburn soon grew into the contest, restoring confidence following the early concession, and their crossing from wide areas was a consistent menace. Yet it was the hosts who provided the next telling contribution.
Herbie Kane retrieved the ball and quickly released Marsh, who took a step inside from the right and struck at Fisher's goal. The effort took a deflection and drifted into the net for the Reds' No.9's second of the encounter and 2-0 on 35 minutes.
Trent Alexander almost produced a third but directed his shot over the crossbar, leaving Marsh to further extend their advantage. Again it was Kane offering the assist to his teammate and this time it was a straightforward finish to seal a fine first-half treble.
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Blackburn returned for the second half with determination to reduce their deficit and created most of the genuine chances, most notably when substitute Sam Joel collected a Mansell cutback and fired at Firth, who was fortunate to watch the hit travel off target after slipping through his grasp.
Once more, though, it was Critchley's charges offering a clinical edge. With 83 minutes on the clock, Canos and Sam Hart combined - having both been introduced from the bench - for the former to curl home a clever fourth for Liverpool.
Further gloss was added to the scoreline in stoppage time, with Alexander the creator for Canos' second. The Spaniard stormed into space and neatly dinked over the 'keeper to conclude a thoroughly handsome win.
Liverpool U18s team: Firth, Lewis, Whelan, Brewitt, Polgar, Alexander, Nicholas, Kane, Marsh, Ejaria, Dhanda. Substitutes: Waldron, Wheeler, Watts, Canos, Hart.