United hold their nerve to win through on penalties
AFTER an extended break due to fixture changes, United’s return to action was a successful one as they advanced in the Liverpool Senior Cup with a 5-4 win on penalties against St Helens Town with the sides having drawn 1-1 in normal time.
Paul McNally handed debuts to David Maher and Steve Kipre while Joe Cawley returned on the bench alongside Jordan Dainty who became the first Academy product named in the squad this season.
United started the brighter with Tom Croughan drawing a low save from Carl Williams from close range in the opening minute.
Town replied with a clever flick from Neil Weaver releasing Moses Yoak who fired at the target and drew a low stop from Ben Barnes with a superb tackle from Cameron Glennon denying a rebound attempt at the empty net.
Weaver swung an effort over the bar from the near side before Tom Grimshaw headed a Glennon cross narrowly over the bar.
A looping cross from Croughan found Peter Moore who drew a defensive block from a powerful shot before Moore turned provider for Steve Kipre who looped a shot over Williams but also past the far post.
A through pass from Yoak found Gedeao Varela on the wing who cut inside and shot but could only find the arms of Barnes and after a Daniel Lomax free-kick was headed on by Jordan Tyrer, Varela hit past the post as the half ended.
Town were gifted the chance to open the scoring on 52 minutes as after dispossessing Glennon, ex-United winger Henry Kamara advanced on goal and was felled by Glennon with Kristian Silcock pointing to the spot.
Yoak stepped up and found his effort superbly parried by the diving Barnes.
A bizarre turn of events three minutes later stemmed from Williams blocking a shot from
Kipre who had broken through the line, the ball reached Emini Adegbenro whose heavy touch saw him upend Lomax and with play stopped, David Maher accidentally struck the referee with the ball from distance and was shown a red card.
United shrugged off the blow within two minutes as they took the lead in spectacular style, Moore picking out Kipre who let fly from long range with a stunning shot which sailed past Williams into the net for 1-0.
The lead could have doubled just after the hour mark as a combination of Tom Grimshaw and Kipre put Adegbenro in great space, he advanced on goal and beat Williams with a rasping effort which cannoned back off the crossbar. St Helens replied with Hal McHugh hitting past the target before Varela went a little closer with a long range effort past the post.
Substitute Jack Grimshaw drew a low save from Williams after collecting a pass from fellow sub Joe Cawley who himself came close to scoring as his corner minutes later was tipped onto the post by Williams with a goal-line clearance needed by the defence.
Cawley hit a shot across goal after collecting a cross before Town equalised with 75 minutes on the clock, substitute Jordan Jones linking with Kamara who put sub Modou Cham in on goal and his looping ball picked out Jones to tap in past Barnes for 1-1.
Adegbenro tried to restore the lead with a shot from distance going past the far post before a pacy run from Varela saw him find Jones who drew a vital block before Weaver hit the rebound narrowly past the far post.
As the game entered the final minutes, Town were fortunate not to fall behind as a long ball from United fooled the defence with the bounce forcing Williams into a superb parry which went to Cawley on the edge of the area who hit an effort at the Town keeper.
The chance was to be the final shot at goal as not long after; the final whistle was blown meaning the spot in the next round would be decided by a penalty shootout.
Town chose to open the shootout with substitute Morgan Onuh up first and his effort drew a superb stop from Barnes.
Adegbenro stepped up for United and slotted past Williams for 1-0. Jones levelled for 1-1 before Matthew Coughlan narrowly beat Williams for 2-1.
Weaver also slotted in for Town to again level at 2-2 before Tom Grimshaw cannoned his spot kick off the bar. Town gained the advantage at 3-2 with Lomax firing past Barnes and Cawley matched him to make it 3-3. McHugh made it 4-3 leaving Kipre needing to score to extend the shootout which he did by slotting in for 4-4.
Sudden death began with Kamara stepping up and Barnes saving the effort superbly with a diving stop, the pressure fell to United captain Jordan Tyrer who now had the chance to win the tie, up he stepped and sent Williams the wrong way to complete a 5-4 win on penalties and send United into the next round.
Williams (c), Robinson (Cham), Atkinson, Clark, Lomax, Devlin, Kamara, McHugh, Weaver, Yoak (Jones 66), Varela (Onuh 83). Taylor, Webster. Barnes, Coughlan, Glennon (Djabi 87), Maher, Keatley, Tyrer (c), Moore (J.Grimshaw 63), T.Grimshaw, Croughan (Cawley 62), Kipre, Adegbenro. Brodie, Dainty.