City of Liverpool FC progressed to the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 at Bootle on Saturday afternoon.
The Purps put in a stirring performance to deservedly take their place in the next round, where they will face at trip to either South Liverpool or Witton Albion.
Paul McNally was without the services of key personnel in Michael Grogan, Kenny Strickland, Jack Hont and Mikey Howard, so Michael Simpson and Si Wills were rushed back from injury whilst Baba Conteh took his place at the heart of defence.
Skipper Danny Mitchley, injured for the whole of pre-season, was a welcome return on the bench with the manager hopeful of being able to call on his services if needed whilst former Liverpool striker Adam Morgan was handed a debut up front.
The Purps were much the better side in the opening exchanges and looked quicker to the ball, whilst also winning plenty of duels in the middle of the park.
Three times in quick succession Paul McNally’s side carved their way through in wide areas and saw devilish crosses flash across the face of goal, narrowly avoiding Morgan and Schorah in the box.
After 25 minutes Adam Morgan almost opened the scoring on his Purps bow after a great flick from Elliot Morris, but the forward saw his fierce left footed effort flash narrowly past Tony Thompson’s left hand post.
It wouldn’t be long before the pressure finally told and City of Liverpool had the opening goal which their early dominance had clearly merited.
A lovely cross-field switch from Dec McLoughlin found Elliot Morris in acres of space, who fed it to the marauding Arthur Lomax-Jones and the left back’s thunderous effort from fully 30 yards arrowed into the top corner of Thompson’s goal.
It was a truly stunning effort from Lomax-Jones against his former side!
City of Liverpool continued with their tails up, buoyed by such a stunning opener and made it two only three minutes later.
A driving run into the box from Simon Wills saw the midfield lynchpin throw in a couple of step-overs before cutting back for Kyle Schorah to pick out Elliot Morris with a deft reverse-pass.
Morris, oh so reliable in front of goal, made no mistake – slotting neatly past the stranded Thompson whose appeals for offside were hampered by the defender stood on the goal line behind him.
City of Liverpool’s threat in forward areas wasn’t dulled by the second goal and before the half was out the lively Adam Morgan once again went close.
An instinctive effort from the left foot of the former Yeovil and Accrington Stanley marksman flashed agonisingly past the post from distance, and it wouldn’t have flattered the Purps had it nestled in the bottom corner.
As it was, the visitors went in two goals to the good at the break and looking good value for their lead after and excellent first half performance.
HALF TIME: BOOTLE 0-2 CITY OF LIVERPOOL
Bootle made a couple of changes at the break with Mick McGraa looking to inject some forward impetus into his side after an off-colour first half.
Former City of Liverpool striker Connor Harwood replace Michael Burkey, whilst Aidan Roxburgh took the place of Jay Cooper.
The home side saw much more of the ball in the City of Liverpool half early in the second period, but didn’t threaten until they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box for a foul which saw Morris booked.
Sean Williams stepped up and saw his low effort take a cruel deflection off Adam Morgan, to wrong-foot Calvin Hare and find the back of the net.
The goal gave Bootle an injection of confidence and they were spurred on by the excellent Harwood, who was a constant threat with the direct running and physicality brought by his introduction.
City of Liverpool’s defence was resolute, marshalled by excellent Adam Rooney and Baba Conteh, whilst skipper-for-the-day Calvin Hare was a calming presence between the sticks.
The final stages saw both sides reduced to ten men when Conteh and Sean Williams both saw straight reds for an off the ball incident which prompted a number of comings together between sides.
Bootle had a series of corners as they searched for an equaliser and almost found once when centreback Jonny Spittle glanced a free header wide with the goal at his mercy – a real let-off for City of Liverpool!
Deep into EIGHT minutes of injury time, the pressure cooker was let off as Elliot Morris picked up the ball on the half way line, before surging past a series of Bootle defenders to slot a magnificent goal past Thompson.
Morris wheeled away in jubilation to celebrate with his adoring away fans, knowing he’d rubber-stamped his side’s place in the next round.
It was an afternoon where every single one of Paul McNally’s players put a shift in to ensure they were in the hat for Monday’s draw, each playing a key part in City of Liverpool’s progression.
Despite the nervy moments of the latter stages, the visitors were deserving of their win and will look forward to their trip to either Jericho Lane or Wincham Park in the next round.
FULL TIME: BOOTLE 1-3 CITY OF LIVERPOOL
City of Liverpool: Calvin Hare (c), Michael Simpson, Arthur Lomax-Jones, Adam Rooney, Baba Conteh, Simon Wills, Elliot Morris, Ismail Sonko, Adam Morgan (Danny Mitchley 76′), Dec McLoughlin, Kyle Schorah (Xenon Bahula 61′).
Subs not used: Astley Mulholland, Andy Owens, Ethan Jones, Paddy Jones, Tom McNally.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
You could reasonably make a case for anyone to be the afternoon’s Pick of the Purples, but Adam Rooney was a monster at the back winning every header, tackle and duel asked of him.
MANAGER’S INTERVIEW:
Paul McNally thought his side was good value for their win after a devastating first half spell saw them surge into a 2-0 lead, praising three “goals of the highest quality”.
NEXT UP:
City of Liverpool face a tough trip to Wythenshawe FC tonight looking for our first league win of the season.