Jordan Pickford makes a special guest appearance at North Liverpool Academy
We’re back with another #MatchReportMonday between hosts North Liverpool Academy (Liverpool) and Kirkby High School (Knowsley). As well as hosting the ESFA Boys’ Under 14 PlayStation Schools’ Cup round 3 match, North Liverpool Academy were also treated to a visit from Everton FC and England number 1 Jordan Pickford for this season’s fourth PlayStation Schools’ Cup Tie of the Round event!
North Liverpool Academy v Kirkby High School
Before the match proceedings, Jordan Pickford was introduced to both squads pausing for photos and wishing good luck to both teams.
The teams then headed to the 3G pitch for kick off, North Liverpool Academy in yellow and black and Kirkby High School in Purple. Kirkby started on the front foot having the majority of the ball in earlier exchanges and, after a partially cleared Kirkby free-kick was recycled back in to the Box, for Seary who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to give us our first goal of the game – North Liverpool Academy 0 – 1 Kirkby High School.
Kirkby continued to pile on the pressure in the pursuit of second cushion goal and if not for a goal-line clearance from the North Liverpool Academy, Kirkby’s number 12 would have found it!
As the first-half progressed, the North Liverpool Academy lads found their feet and begun enjoying more of the ball and looking especially dangerous down the left wing. The North Liverpool Academy’s Marshall was causing the Kirkby defence real problems with his pace and after a burst into the box the Marshall squeezed the ball past the keeper at the near posts leveling the game at North Liverpool Academy 1 – 1 Kirkby High School.
With the game now all square and North Liverpool Academy back in the game, the Kirkby number 9 Josh Seary begun to show signs of exceptional quality, drawing opposition defenders out of position, juggling and then chipping the ball in behind the defence to find the on-running Beyga who fired a shot across goal, hitting the side netting – North Liverpool Academy 1 – 2 Kirkby High School.
Kirkby’s Seary was by no means finished there either, making good use of a 25-yard free kick by rifling the ball straight into the top right corner for Kirkby’s third goal.
North Liverpool Academy wasted no time in looking for a response and only 60 seconds after conceding the number 14 latched onto a ball finding the composure to pick out Cahill in the middle for North Liverpool Academy’s second goal, ending the first-half scoring – North Liverpool Academy 2 – 3 Kirkby High School HT.
After an exhilarating first-half with 5 goals, the second-half got underway and in contrast to the first half, it was North Liverpool Academy that came out the blocks quickest, pressing and probing for an equalising goal. Jordan Pickford showed his interest in the match standing on sidelines for the second half!
Toward the middle of the second-half the Kirkby lads found their second wind and after a ball was played in behind the North Liverpool Academy’s defence, it was swiftly picked up by a Kirkby forward who swiveled and chiped the onrushing keeper finding the back of the net – all but confirming the win with a fourth Kirkby goal. It was Seary again completing his hat-trick in style!
The North Liverpool Academy boys pushed and pressed to try get themselves back into game creating some good chances, however Kirkby High School were resilient in their defending and managed the game out for a victory.
FT North Liverpool Academy 2 – 4 Kirkby High School
Huge credit must go to both teams for making a fantastically competitive match! Kirkby High School (Knowsley) progress into round 4 of the competition and will face Chesterfield High School (Sefton).
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By ESFA Rob
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