Rovers denied by late Liverpool equaliser as Man City take PL2 title

A late Liverpool equaliser denied Billy Barr’s side the three points they needed to stop City winning the title tonight, now sitting 10 points behind with three games to go, but there is no denying the progress Rovers have made this season. 

They looked to have secured an 11th win of an impressive campaign as Isaac Whitehall scored in either half, only for Liverpool to come up with two equalisers courtesy of Ben Woodburn and Leighton Clarkson.

That results means City will take the title, and leaves Rovers second in the standings. having put in another excellent display.

Antonis Stergiakis returned in goal for Rovers, with Jalil Saadi replacing Louie Annesley in central defence and Isaac Whitehall coming into the midfield three as top scorer Connor McBride dropped to the bench.

Rovers were on the front foot from the off, Leighton Clarkson pressed into a mistake by Garrett who was played in by Sam Burns, goalkeeper Liam Hughes out quickly to deny him. The visitors were then penalised for a back-pass as Hughes picked up the loose ball, but he atoned for that by blocking Butterworth’s effort.

It was a strong start from Rovers, a crunching Dan Pike challenge creating an attack that saw Joe Nolan cross for the advanced run of Whitehall, but Hughes was equal to his near post volley.

The visitors registered their first shot on target on the half hour mark, the ball worked to the left edge of the box where Elijah Dixon-Bonner’s snap-shot was easily held by Stergiakis.

Rovers had opened Liverpool up with one short corner, and then scored from another 33 minutes in. They were patient in their build-up before Garrett delivered a stunning cross from the left that was asking to be turned in, Whitehall’s run across the front post seeing him do that with a neat volley into the corner.

Burns was proving more than nuisance value at the head of the Rovers attack, going close to a second six minutes before the break. He collected a Butterworth pass to race into the box, his left foot shot deflecting narrowly wide of the near post.

Liverpool were ruthless to equalise four minutes after the re-start, however, punishing Saadi’s loss of possession. Joe Hardy fed the run of Ben Woodburn with an excellent pass, the Reds captain taking one touch to control and another to finish beyond Stergiakis.

That seemed to bring more confidence to the visitors’ play, but Rovers were far from overawed, going close to a second as Sam Barnes curled just wide after a Cirino shot was only blocked as far as him.

Butterworth would then grow in influence and with it Rovers would start to take charge of proceedings and re-took the lead with a superb team move just beofre the midway point of the half.  The move started with Saadi winning the ball in his half, then worked into the box by Butterworth and Burns who cross for the unmarked to finish it off for his second of the game.

Stergiakis hadn’t had much to do, but with 17 minutes remaining, pulled off an important stop to keep the lead intact. A ball found its way across the Rovers box to left back Owen Beck at the far post, a powerful strike denied by the legs of the young Greek ‘stopper.

There was a fear the Rovers legs were beginning to tire as the game tipped into the final minute, Durrant replaced by Jared Harlock as Barr looked to freshen things up.

And Harlock would have an immediate impact, setting up a great chance for Burns to seal the victory. He raced onto a Whitehall pass to feed the striker who opted against playing in Butterworth who looked better placed, his shot flashing wide of the upright.

There was still some energy in the legs of the tireless Cirnio who broke forward to deliver a cross from which Butterworth glanced an effort just wide.

There was a late sting for Rovers though, Clarkson's side-foot effort going through a host of bodies to find the bottom corner.

Rovers: Stergiakis, Pike, Barnes, Saadi, Cirino, Garrett, Whitehall, Nolan, Durrant (Harlock, 78), Butterworth, Burns

Subs: Annesley, Eastham, McBride, Baker