AFC Liverpool 2-0 Squires Gate - Match Report

Kyle Schorah and Mark Madden’s late flurry of strikes earned AFC Liverpool a huge win in their serge up the table, as the ‘Non League Reds’ succumbed Squires Gate 2-0 at the Marine Travel Arena.

Despite the game being delayed due to a light failure, the game showed no sign of delaying, as both sides were quick out the blocks.

In the space of a minute, AFC missed a glorious chance as an effort drifted wide before the visitors broke in their numbers.

Theodore Ball was the first to receive and he then drove with venom into the area and he was then able to drive an effort forward, but Jack McGovern showed no hesitation to easily scoop it up.

AFC Liverpool began to tighten the screw on the contest, as they started to dominate over their opponents as the hosts looked authoritative.

The two Schorah’s were hungry, as in the passage of play, Kyle was the first to test Pennington inbetween the sticks, but his weak shot was relatively comfortable to deny.

Tom Croughan warmed Pennington’s gloves, with the Gate shot-stopper beating away a venomous effort. Croughan won the ball back and cut it back to Callum Schorah, who blazed wide.

Croughan was back and amongst the action, threatening the visitors abode. The advertising board on the side of the goal vibrated as the AFC number nine struck wide of the post.

The hosts had shown a lack of complacency and this allowed Squires Gate to grow into the game, with an effort diverted goalwards for the first threatening time by the visitors should have resulted in them taking the lead.

Captain Westwood ventured forward from the back to fire an effort forward, but an unbelievable goal-line clearance by the outstretched Kian Bell kept the score at a halt.

From a resulting free-kick straight from kicking off from the previous chance, Westwood rose highest from a dangerous in-swinging cross into the cross, but he saw his effort denied by McGowan.

HT: AFC Liverpool 0-0 Squires Gate

Straight into the fray in the second half, and AFC were left dumbfounded as to how they never took the lead and one to hold on to.

Firstly, the post was struck from the right from Tom Douglas cutting in and driving, it came out to Callum Schorah who then rattled the opposite post himself.

Then, Croughan’s effort was brilliantly denied by the keeper just minutes, as AFC’s attacking intent shone through.

AFC earned the numerical advantage, as after a silly scuffle on the sideline, the Gate lost Christ Webster to a red card and Dan Gray to a sinbin, as the visitors momentarily had nine men.

More chances came and went for the hosts, and as the game ticked on, you wandered if they were going to be able to score.

Luke Porter brought the best thwart from Pennington, as his palms were stung with a drilled effort right into his path.

The Schorah’s had various efforts missed and so too did Tom Douglas from the most fortunate of crosses, but this was a sign of things to come as AFC finally drew first blood.

Kyle Schorah took a ball into his stride from the half way line before performing a darting run, leaving many for dead. The clinical forwardman curled a delicious strike into the top corner, leaving Pennington stranded.

AFC injected further impetus into their game, and nearly added a second to extend their cushion. Finlay Heath struck a caulker from afar which caused Pennington problems as it spilled through his grasps - he managed to haul himself up and avert the danger, despite heavy protests that the ball had crossed the line.

The game earned its sealer, as AFC Liverpool added their second en route to a huge three points. Mark Madden was laid across the box as he had the whole of the MTA at his mercy to slot into, and the clinical striker made no mistake as he rolled home to secure the game.

Callum Schorah was close to inflicting further misery on the travelling visitors, but his low drive was clawed away.

FT: AFC Liverpool 2-0 Squires Gate