Lower Breck 2-0 AFC Liverpool - Match Report

Connor Rankin and Connor McCarthy’s second-half strikes saw Lower Breck defeat local-rivals AFC Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield Sports, continuing their impressive record against the Non-League Reds and moved up the tables.

With the first twenty minutes of the contest between two locals starting slow, with some blocks from shots, the closest either side came was Theo Roberts almost dropping a clanger. From an AFC corner, he was close to spilling it however, the post spared him a howler.

The game sprung into life within the next ten minutes. Jawad Jebrin, on form, almost netted after peeling in on the back post from a Jamie Menagh cross with the shot flying agonisingly wide before the high-flying visitors broke in their numbers. Kian Bell was slipped through and his powerful strike cannoned off the under side of the bar.

Breck had two consecutive chances on the break which they almost converted. Tom McNamara scooped an effort wide before opportunities by Jawad Jebrin and Connor McCarth required last-ditch defending on the line by the AFC defender.

Roberts was almost at fault once more for a present of an AFC Liverpool goal but his heart could skip a beat as the resulting strike by Elliot Hughes was thwarted.

HT: Lower Breck 0-0 AFC Liverpool

As the game began with a stoppage due to the fog covering the full turf, The Breck started the second period with the ascendancy, and awoke McGovern early in the half when a low drive by Connor McCarthy was smothered by the AFC keeper. The pressure eventually payed off as the hosts gained the advantage. In the foggy Anfield air, a Connor Rankin effort took a vicious deflection off Finley Heath, which flew over a hapless McGovern and nestled into the net, with the strike barely visible to many in attendance.

As the fog started to clear away and the game was discernible, the visitors began a cycle of chances and pressure on Theo Roberts’ net. The Breck 1 was forced to make a strong hand to tip away a venomous strike by Oliver Sanderson-Rigby and he then had his defender to thank for curbing a Luke Stephens’ diverted effort off the line.

After valiant defending down one end to keep their lead in tacked, Lower Breck reaped the rewards by doubling their advantages

Sloppy AFC Liverpool defending followed as Stephens’ pockets were pinched by Rankin, which presented the Breck with a clear opening with no-one really back for AFC Liverpool. Rankin played across Connor McCarthy who powered home a second.

AFC never really got going from that and orbiet a Sanderson-Rigby free-kick creeping wide of the keepers right post, the game played out to be a feisty one in the local derby and they couldn’t take control with a numerical advantage late on via Jamie Menagh’s sin-bin.

FT: Lower Breck 2-0 AFC Liverpool