Liverpool won the Lancashire FA Senior Cup after beating Burnley 1-0 in the final on Wednesday night thanks to a spectacular strike from James Norris.
Leighton Clarkson had already seen a penalty saved when the forward broke the deadlock with a stunning volley into the top corner from the edge of the box. And it was no more than the young Reds, having dominated from start to finish against the Clarets. deserved as they ended their under-23s season with silverware.
Naming a strong side featuring the likes of Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley and Rhys Williams, Liverpool started brightly and were unfortunate not to take an early lead as Jarell Quansah headed over from a corner, before Jack Bearne headed straight at Sam Waller.
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The Burnley goalkeeper was called into action again soon after to deny Bearne as the forward unleashed a fierce shot at goal from Norris’ lay-off, which the shot-stopper parried before gathering at the second attempt.
Marcelo Pitaluga had little to do for the majority but was called into action to save from Joe McGlynn when the Burnley forward broke through one-on-one, before saving from Max Thompson with his feet. However, Liverpool remained on top as they continued to knock at the door with Fidel O’Rourke dragging a shot off-target, Clarkson firing over the bar from distance and Norris scuffing a volley wide.
O’Rourke went close once again before the interval, only to see his close-range effort blocked from Owen Beck’s cross, before Morton shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box and Norris fired a good chance over.
Liverpool had a glorious chance to open the scoring after the restart as Bearne was brought down in the box. However, Clarkson was unable to take advantage as Waller guessed correctly, diving to his right to keep out the spot-kick.
The midfielder helped make amends soon after, however, as his set-piece helped create the opener, with his cross cleared only for Norris to hammer home into the top corner with an outrageous first-time volley.
McGlynn and Ne-Jai Tucker both missed good chances to equalise with the forward drilling into the side-netting before the winger scuffed an effort wide. But Liverpool were in control from thereon in, with Norris involved in everything.
The winger knocked the ball down to Bearne, only for his fellow forward to shoot wide, with captain Tom Clayton then scuffing a shot wide from the edge of the box from a Norris cross.
He then went close himself following a great infield run from Owen Beck, only to see his shot deflected narrowly wide, before having a further effort blocked soon after.
Yet it mattered not come the final whistle, with Norris’ volley the difference as Liverpool saw out the game to win the Lancashire FA Senior Cup.
Liverpool team: Pitaluga; Bradley, Williams, Quansah, Beck; Morton, Clarkson, Clayton; Bearne, O’Rourke (Balagizi, 70), Norris.
