CLASS OF 2006 REACH FINAL
 The Liverpool youth set up may be about to pay dividends again as the reds reached the FA Youth Cup Final for the first time in 10 years. Last time the likes of Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen were produced by the side thanks to Steve Heighway and the Academy's hard work.
Liverpool's youngsters are into the final of the FA Youth Cup after goalkeeper David Roberts emulated Jerzy Dudek's Istanbul heroics by saving two penalties, in a heroic 5-4 shoot-out win over Southampton at St Mary's.
Liverpool were seconds away from reaching the final in normal time but an own goal from Jack Hobbs in the fourth minute of stoppage time earned Southampton an equaliser. It was so unfortunate for Hobbs who had a magnificent match on the night and didn't deserve that moment of misfortune. A cross came in from the right hand side and Hobbs, on the stretch, turned the ball past his own goalkeeper David Roberts to earn the Saints a lifeline. That made the scoreline 3-3 on aggregate and forced extra-time.
Then after the aggregate scoreline of 4-4 at the end of extra-time, Liverpool won the penalty shoot-out thanks to the brilliance of Roberts.
Paul Barratt, Charlie Barnett, Michael Nardiello, Adam Hammill and Stephen Darby all scored from the spot for Liverpool
Liverpool were magnificent on the night and deserved to win the game in a match that had so many twists and turns. Steve Heighway's team will now hope to match the Michael Owen/Jamie Carragher inspired team of 1996 that won the FA Youth Cup.
It was one of those games that you couldn't take your eyes off for a minute as there were so many goalmouth scrambles and heroic defending from the likes of Hobbs and Godwin Antwi at the back for Liverpool.
The fighting spirit of the Liverpool players was fantastic and the young lads just kept fighting and fighting. They suffered another blow 10 minutes into the first period of extra-time David McGoldrick scored his second goal of the game from close range to put Southampton 3-1 up. However the young Reds responded almost instantly and Robbie Threlfall rose high from a corner to head home to make it 3-2 and the aggregate equaliser at 4-4.
Liverpool had played really well in the first half and things had looked rosy when Craig Lindfield gave them a fourth minute lead to make it 3-1 on aggregate. The outstanding Adam Hammill started the move and when Charlie Barnett threaded a superb through ball into Lindfield's path, the striker did the rest with a cool and composed finish.
Liverpool had the chances to increase their scoreline but Adam Hammill and Ryan Flynn were both denied by brilliant saves from Saints keeper Zach Jones.
Just past the hour mark Southampton equalised when Adam Lallana set up David McGoldrick who tapped in from close range.
The Reds then had to withstand incessant Southampton pressure in the second half as the home side threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Liverpool defence.
Steve Heighway's young heroes were excellent on the night against Southampton, on a freezing night at St Mary's, and thoroughly deserve the accolades that will come their way after this victory.
It took Liverpool's young starlets just three minutes to open the scoring and make it 3-1 on aggregate.
It is a wonderful achievement for Liverpool to make the final of the FA Youth Cup and the combination of home grown talent and Rafael Benitez's signings Jack Hobbs, Paul Anderson, Godwin Antwi and Miki Roque has worked a treat.
Liverpool Academy Director Steve Heighway made one change to his team from the first leg with Paul Barratt coming in to strengthen the midfield, in place of 16-year-old right winger Ben Parsonage.
As a team Liverpool were outstanding on the night and the players worked so hard for each other and were so desperate to reach the final of the FA Youth Cup.
Hammill was a constant menace to the Saints defence all night from the left wing and was denied a deserved goal in the second half when he was denied by a fine save from Zach Jones.
It was a fantastic game of football and the youngsters have done the club proud.
Southampton Youth: Jones, Hatch, Bale, Thomson, Lancashire, Lallana, Dyer, James, De Carvalho, McGoldrick, Dutton-Black.
Liverpool Youth: Roberts, Darby, Threlfall, Hobbs, Antwi, Barnett, Barratt, Flynn (Roque 96), Lindfield (Nardiello 84), Anderson (Ryan 78), Hammill. Subs not used: Mimms (GK), Burns.
Referee: P T Crossley
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