AFC Liverpool v Formby, 3rd October 2012

 The appointment of Kevin Dally as AFC Liverpool Manager in February 2016, brought back memories of a Liverpool Senior Cup tie in the autumn of 2012 at Valerie Park.  On the night in question our opponents were Formby, then managed by Mr Dally.  On his appointment at AFC, quite a few of Mr Dally's old Formby team joined him at AFC.

 

One of those lads was Emini (Mini) Adegnbenro, who has been around one or two other North West Counties League Clubs since his spell with the Reds.  Mini made quite an impression that night.  In fact my feelings after the match was that if he had been more involved, then Formby could have done more damage.  He was the big threat each move he got involved in, especially during the first half. 

 

About a quarter of an hour in and Formby took the lead.  It was a well worked goal, in which the ball was just about kept in on the left hand side before a cross came over which was met by a header from Connor Smith. 

 

Although we drew level through a John Lawless free kick about 10 minutes later, that man Mini had a golden moment on the half hour to put the Squirrels back into the lead.  Mini went on a fine run from inside his own half, took the ball past a couple of our defenders before smashing the ball beautifully into the top corner. 

 

Formby were excellent value for their first half lead.  A few crosses and set pieces aside, we just did not ask enough questions of Formby.  With Jack Sinnott playing out wide and River Humphries playing in Midfield, some of Reds’ Boss Paul Moore’s selections appeared a little strange.

 

As was so often the case with this AFC Liverpool team, John Lawless proved to be the difference between winning and losing.  It was his two second half penalties which proved decisive in turning this tie around.  I was not convinced myself that the first of the two penalties should have been given.  That said, Lawless showed one moment of near Messi brilliance when he touched the ball around the defender, quickly shot for goal, but just shot wide.

 

On a rare occasion Formby did get Mini involved in the second half, one of his crosses created problems for Reds Keeper Matt Kasbarian.  After the keeper could only get a hand to Mini's cross, the ball eventually dropped to Formby's Paul Speed to score a certain goal.  Thankfully Shaun Harris threw his foot in the way, and somehow diverted the ball over the bar.

Formby did try to apply the pressure late on, but ran out of steam and we progressed.  On leaving Valerie Park, I did say to Alan Williams that had I been supporting Formby that night, the inability to get number 11 (Mini) involved more, must have been frustrating!

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