New boy Mark Gonzalez was on target for the Reds as a Liverpool
XI beat Lincoln 2-1 at Sincil Bank in a game arranged as part of
the transfer agreement that saw Jack Hobbs move to Anfield last
summer.
With the likes of Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard on international
duty, the Reds took the opportunity to help improve the match
fitness of a number of players returning from injury.
Robbie Fowler enjoyed an impressive first half alongside Gonzalez
and Fabio Aurelio while Neil Mellor made his long-awaited comeback
during the second-half.
After Gonzalez had given Liverpool an early lead, Besian Idrizaj
added a second during an exciting first-half. Ryan Semple grabbed
Lincoln's goal late into the game.
In the first 45 minutes both Fowler and Gonzalez might have scored
hat-tricks. Some of Fowler's passing was Jari Litmanen esque at
times and Gonzalez caught the eye with some brilliant dribbling.
Brazilian Aurelio has the type of left foot you could open a can of
beans with, and some of his passing in the first half was right out
of the top drawer and rightly earned the applause of the healthy
near 10,000 crowd.
Former Imp Hobbs was given the honour of captaining the Reds on his
return to Sincil Bank.
The Imps have made a good start to their League Two season winning
twice and drawing once under head coach John Schofield, and they
gave a good account of themselves.
New Liverpool Reserve team manager Gary Ablett took charge of the
Reds for the first time and Rafael Benitez watched from the
stands.
Liverpool made a good start to the game and Gonzalez came close to
a goal in the opening 45 seconds when he combined with Aurelio
before shooting off target.
Fowler then had two great chances when he headed wide from a corner
then fired over the bar from close range following a neat one-two
with Idrizaj.
Gonzalez then went on a mazy dribble that ended with a shot inches
wide before the Chile international opened the scoring after 19
minutes.
The Reds number 11 latched onto Aurelio's wonderfully measured
through ball and then fired the ball beyond the reach of the Imps
keeper Alan Marriott into the back of the net.
Idrizaj made it 2-0 just before the break when he followed up after
Godwin Antwi had struck the bar with a firm header.
With Fowler, Gonzalez, Aurelio and Jan Kromkamp making way in the
second half the likes of Warnock and Adam Hammill were given their
chance to impress. Hammill was a lively figure and minutes after
entering the field was so unlucky to see his fierce drive superbly
turned away by Simon Rayner.
Lincoln pulled a goal back after 65 minutes when Ryan Semple
capitalised on hesitation in the Reds defence to score.
Mellor then made his comeback from injury and might have scored a
hat-trick himself when he hit the post and was twice denied by fine
saves from Rayner.
Overall it was a superb evening's entertainment and for former Imp
Hobbs back at Sincil Bank it was an emotional night.
Lincoln City: Marriott (Rayner 30), Amoo (Foster 45), Moses (Clarke
45), Cryan, Mayo, Frecklington (Watt 45), Kerr, Semple (King
6
, Warlow (Sherlock 45), Gritton, Ryan.
Liverpool: Martin, Kromkamp (Roque 45), Aurelio (Warnock 45), Antwi
(Smith 62), Hobbs, Diao, Anderson (Barratt 76), Peltier, Fowler
(Hammill 45), Idrizaj (Mellor 62), Gonzalez (Guthrie 45).
Referee: Uriah Rennie.
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Mark Gonzalez. A lively 45 minutes
and scored a great goal.
