At last the club have decided to do something sensible, sell tickets for the resorves on the gate at KP. Unfortunately they didn't think to label the turnstiles, so it took me 4 attempts to get into the ground. There were a few camera crews present, presumably to record the return of Carl Cort. Bobby Robson was also out on the pitch by the dugout.

The full line-up was:
1. John Karelse
2. Ryan McGuffie
3. Stephen Glass
4. Gary Caldwell
5. David Beharall
6. Jamie McClen
7. Diego Gavilan
8. Mark Boyd
9. Lomana LuaLua
10. Carl Cort
11. Pablo Bonvin

12. James Coppinger
13. Jonathan Brain
14. Colin McMenamin
15. Joseph Kendrick
16. Stephen Brennan

The only familiar names on Liverpool's team sheet were Pegguy Arphexad who was in goal and Patrick Berger who wasn't there!

Last week's win had obviously boosted the lads as they started brightly and had several attempts on goal, none of them really troubling the keeper. Jamie McClen got in two or three excellent shots, pity he also kept giving the ball away! Cort looked very rusty and headed wide of an open goal shortly before the break.

Half-time, so up to the bar. Saw Steve Caldwell and Daniel Cordone in the stands, also Olivier Bernard. No players following me out of the loo this week - just John Carver!

Second half and Liverpool decided to block our view by having 6 people standing in front of the dugout. However, it didn't stop us seeing Arphexad coming way out of his area and Bonvin slotting the ball past him into an empty net after about 10 minutes. 1-0 to the Toon, but nobody bothered to put it up on the scoreboard! Karelse gave us a few heartstopping moments but also made some excellent saves. A decent shot-stopper but tends to flap and fumble the ball a bit too often. At one point our defence went AWOL and two red shirts were clear through on goal. Amazingly Karelse pulled off the save of the game.

Around this time I noticed Bobby wasn't in the stand and commented that he must have left. Then the mob in the away dugout cleared for a moment and we saw YBR on the touchline with Tommy Craig. Cort was subbed for Joseph Kendrick. He'll probably play on Saturday now Shearer is out but he didn't look good. Coppy and McMenamin came on for Lua2 and Bonvin but didn't really add anything to the game. The 4th official announced one minute of stoppage time which seemed to last for about five! Liverpool were pressing and we thankfully cleared the ball out of our half. Then with the last kick of the game, Gavilan scored an absolute blinder from about 25 yards out. 2-0 and our third win in a row! Pity none of the first team were there to see how to do it!

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Answers

Excellent report Steph - thanks. The HT toilet scene seems to have notably quieter this week - must be due to Screacher's absence.
I actually fancied coming along tonight but didn't have a chance to get into Toon to get a ticket. In addition to marking the turnstiles, it would probably also help if the Club advised its fans that KP isn't all-ticket any longer!

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Oi Clarky. I don't go blabbing about your ailments so please kindly will you leave my abscess out of it.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Great report, Steph. Maybe Gavilan will finally start breaking through to the first team? What's going on in those loos, that NUFC-types keep following you out?! ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Never mind Gavilan, surely Bonvin must be thinking he may get a chance soon. A left winger who seems to score regularly, when was the last time we had one of them? Hopefully his substitution means he may be on the bench on Saturday.

Also what is happening to Cordone, no games for the first team and no games for the reserves? Even when we had no one else he didn't get a game, do the lad a favour and let him know he can make arrangements to play elsewhere.

I wouldn't read too much into the Cort performance, he'll be saving himself for Saturday.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

This report, from the Official Liverpool Site, is a bit long winded but worth a read as it makes us sound great!

Two second half Newcastle goals sent Liverpool crashing to defeat in the FA Premier Reserve League on Monday evening.

The Reds never really sparkled throughout the 90 minutes and were often second best against an impressive Magpies’ outfit.

Liverpool fielded a young side with Bernard Diomède the only experienced international on view, while Newcastle welcomed back £7 million summer signing Carl Cort who had been out injured since September with persistent hamstring trouble.

A lively first half saw Newcastle make the brighter start. The first chance of the game came when striker Lomana Lua Lua found space on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area, but he shot just off target.

Cort was a threat, particularly with his aerial ability, and he should have done better with an opening on eight minutes. Latching onto Pablo Bonvin’s deflected cross, Cort found himself free on the right side of the Liverpool penalty area but shot well wide.

There was a scare for Liverpool two minutes later when Djimi Traore fell awkwardly inside his own area in a challenge with Cort. However, after treatment, he was able to continue.

The action continued at a high tempo and Newcastle came close again on 14 minutes. A great run through the heart of the Liverpool defence from Argentinian star Bonvin saw him beat Traore and Stephen Warnock for pace, but Pegguy Arphexad was the Reds’ hero making a brilliant save.

Liverpool gradually began to come into the game, led by the outstanding and industrious Warnock. Indeed, Warnock created the Reds’ first chance on 22 minutes when he set off on a mazy run, leaving two defenders in his wake, but he was denied by a fine stop from John Karelse who also blocked the follow-up from Daniel Sjölund.

Two minutes later Warnock again did well down the left. He turned inside Ryan McGuffie and fed a lovely pass inside to the unmarked Sjölund who unfortunately slipped at the vital moment.

On 27 minutes John Miles set up Richie Partridge in space on the right, but from a good position the Republic of Ireland under-21 international couldn’t find the target and shot wide.

On 29 minutes Bonvin cut in from the left for Newcastle and produced a low deflected drive which brought a superb save from Arphexad. Then, from the resulting corner, Arphexad again had to be alert when he held on well to keep out Gary Caldwell’s fierce drive.

Five minutes later Partridge sent Sjölund away with a fine ball but, after cutting inside, the Finnish under-21 striker shot wide under pressure.

Arphexad was in fine form for the Reds and made another great block at his near post from a deflected Stephen Glass shot.

Another tantalising run from Warnock saw him go down the left wing but his cross for Sjölund was just cleared by David Beharall.

A minute before the break Newcastle star Cort missed an absolute sitter. A fantastic cross from Lua Lua from the right found the unmarked Cort who, from just six yards out, headed wide.

John Miles then found space on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area but couldn’t keep his shot down and he fired over the bar.

Newcastle made a strong start to the second half and took the lead on 52 minutes with a goal of real quality. A neat dummy from Jamie McClen found Bonvin running through and the winger neatly chipped the ball over the advancing Arphexad and into the net.

Liverpool reserve coach Joe Corrigan then made his first change of the evening when Ian Armstrong replaced Chris O’Brien on the hour mark.

Liverpool should have equalised on 62 minutes. A corner was cleared and Grégory Vignal ran clear from the half way line but, with only Karelse to beat, the Frenchman’s shot was blocked by the knees of Newcastle’s Dutch ‘keeper. Armstrong then tried to follow up but his effort was charged down by Caldwell.

Vignal was in the thick of the action and on 65 minutes he fed a great ball through to Diomède. However, just as the French international was about to shoot, he was denied by a strong challenge by Diego Gavilan.

The Reds made another change after 68 minutes when Stephen McNulty replaced Traore.

Bonvin then went close to a second goal for Newcastle when he fired a drive just wide after a neat Newcastle move.

Too often in the second half the final ball let Liverpool down in attack. However, to the Reds’ credit, they did push Newcastle hard for an equaliser in the final ten minutes.

From Diomède’s raking through ball Sjölund was so unlucky to see a spectacular half volley well saved by Karelse. Sjölund and Armstrong went close for Liverpool after that but Newcastle just managed to scramble the ball away.

With time running out Gavilan made it 2-0 to Newcastle in stoppage time. Good play by McClen down the right and a sweeping cross found Gavilan who made no mistake from close range.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

Since when does 25 yards become "close range"?

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

Softie, I could have mistaken the cross for the shot. I just saw the ball hit in from distance and end up in the net - couldn't see who was on the end of it!

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

he was denied by a strong challenge by Diego Gavilan.

wow

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

Gavilan has definitely filled out since he arrived. His little legs have become quite muscular!

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

The new Darren Jackson ?

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

..or the last Des Hamilton?????

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

Forgot to say thanks for the report Steph. I really enjoy reading whats happening as I can't get there. Have we had a training ground report lately, or is it easier to go straight to the RVI?

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001