YOUNG REDS IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER

Steve Hunter 22 April 2007 Liverpool under-18s were involved in a seven goal thriller in their latest Academy match when they beat Newcastle United 4-3.

Charlie Barnett scored the winning goal for Liverpool after Newcastle had come back from 3-0 down to make it 3-3. Reds under-18 manager John Owens rested 10 players from the team that played in Monday's FA Youth Cup Final first leg against Manchester United. From that team only Lee Woodward was retained while Owens welcomed back Swedish starlet Astrit Ajdarevic from suspension. Woodward opened the scoring before Michael Scott added a second goal after a great run and cross from Ben Parsonage. The winger then scored the third goal himself. Things looked to be going smoothly for Liverpool but reviving memories of past first team encounters between the two sides from the 90's the Geordies were level at 3-3, with three goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. However, Barnett turned out to be the hero for Liverpool when he came off the bench to net the winner. "It was a fantastic game of football and we are pleased to have won when it looked like we had thrown it away," reflected Owens. Liverpool under-18s team: David Roberts, John Routledge, Shane O'Connor, Laurence Gaughan, Stephen Behan, Astrit Ajdarevic (Michael Burns 65), Paul Barratt, Ben Parsonage, Michael Collins (Ray Putterill 65), Lee Woodward (Charlie Barnett 65), Michael Scott.