28.7.07  PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Colchester 1 Liverpool 1 (www.lfc.tv)


A young Liverpool XI earned a 1-1 draw with Colchester United at Layer Road on Saturday after Miki Roque's second half-volley cancelled out Clive Platt's early strike for the home side during an entertaining pre-season friendly.

The Reds - managed by Gary Ablett - fell behind when Platt, Colchester's £300,000 record signing from the MK Dons, scored in the 31st minute but produced a superb second-half display and scored a richly-deserved equalizer when Roque struck from 12 yards in the 72nd minute.

The Liverpool squad that made the long journey south was largely the same as that which earned a 0-0 draw at Peterborough last week, but they were strengthened by the inclusion of Stephen Darby, Jack Hobbs and Nabil El Zhar, who all appeared in the first team for our recent games against Werder Bremen and Auxerre in Switzerland.

Colchester, managed by ex-Derby County player Geraint Williams, boasted a number of former Premiership players in their squad. The biggest of those, Teddy Sheringham, missed the game with a calf injury, but the U's did have another old foe in their line-up, Kevin Lisbie, who scored a hat-trick against the Reds when playing for Charlton in 2003.

Gary Ablett's men will have known to expect a tough challenge from a Colchester side which finished an impressive 10th in last season's ultra competitive Championship. And with the Layer Road pitch in superb condition, hopes were high for an entertaining match.

When we got underway it was Colchester who were first to threaten when Lisbie headed wide, but Liverpool were soon on the attack and they almost went in front in the 9th minute when Spearing's instant pass found Flynn and his well struck shot brought a good save from U's stopper Gerken.

The Liverpool youngsters were acquitting themselves well in the face of a competitive Colchester approach and they came close again in the 15th minute when this time a combination of El Zhar, who looked really sharp, and Brouwer gave Idrizaj a shooting chance that again needed saving.

The Reds should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when El Zhar's cross gave Brouwer a close range chance that he headed over, but they fell behind themselves when Platt put Colchester ahead just three minutes later. The goal coming after Hansen had done brilliantly to parry Lisbie's point blank header only to find Platt perfectly positioned to poke home the rebound.

It took a goalline clearance from Elokobi to stop Idrizaj's prodded effort from giving Liverpool a deserved equalizer on the stroke of half time, but Platt's goal meant they went in for the break behind.

Liverpool came out for the second half and stepped up a gear. They'd played well in the first half, but they came out after the interval and took the game to Colchester. Jordi Brouwer twice came close to drawing them level and it took a brilliant save from Gerken to deprive Roque, but Ablett's men weren't to be denied and they scored an excellent equalizer through Miki Roque in the 72nd minute.

It came when Putterill swung in a corner from the right and Roque found space on the penalty spot to swivel and strike a superb volley into the corner of the net. It was no more than Liverpool deserved and they almost won the game when Huth hit a blistering 35 yard shot just wide close to full time.
 

Liverpool – Hansen, Roque, Darby, Hobbs, Huth, Spearing, El Zhar (Nemeth 77), Flynn, Brouwer (Lindfield 66), Idrizaj, Putterill (Crowther 73). Subs not used – Oldfield.

Referee – Barry Knight