England U17 European Champion Conor Coady was on the mark as Liverpool Reserves came from behind to win the Liverpool Senior Cup after a 3-2 win over Skelmersdale United at the Ashley Travel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Skelmersdale United gave it everything they had and were a real credit to themselves and the non-league circuit, but McMahon's side showed great character to come back and win.
Coady, Gerardo Bruna and Alex Cooper all found the net for Liverpool.
This match was held over from last season and there was a good crowd in to watch the game.
McMahon fielded a young side with Icelandic midfielder Victor Palsson and Danish 'keeper Martin Hansen given an outing after recently being included in Roy Hodgson's first team squad for the Swiss training camp. Promising Academy midfielder Michael Roberts made his first start for the reserves in the middle of the park.
Liverpool's Danish youth international Nikola Saric went close after four minutes when he cut in from the right and fired a left-footed effort just wide of Damien Eastham's near post.
Two minutes later Bruna got clear down the left and was unlucky to see his attempted chip just clear the bar.
The home side went close themselves when Roberts lost position and Skem captain Aaron Turner fired wide.
The match had started in superb fashion with both sides intent on attacking and Palsson was next to go close when he was denied by Eastham after a determined run into the box.
Karl O'Donnell then found himself clean through, but under pressure from Reds stopper Hansen he hesitated, then when the ball fell invitingly to Ryan Wade he was denied superbly by the Dane.
Skelmersdale United took the lead after 11 minutes from a well worked corner when the unmarked Karl Ledsham headed home after a near post flick on.
Liverpool had a great chance to equalise when Palsson fired wide from a good position after superb play down the right from Saric.
McMahon's side were level after 24 minutes and it came through a typical free-kick from Bruna. The former Real Madrid man caught the Skem defence and 'keeper off guard as he curled a sweet effort into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later it was almost 2-1 but Palsson's near post header was cleared off the line by Paul Byrne.
Exciting Portugese youngster Toni Silva was next to go close when he fired just wide after a superb pass from Roberts.
The crowd were then left applauding Silva after a wonderful run down the right. After exchanging passes with Bruna he gave himself a great chance but with a reluctance to shoot with his right foot was denied by a brave save from Eastham.
A minute after the break Liverpool went 2-1 up when Coady headed home Bruna's right wing corner.
Skem then went close to an equaliser when Phil Mooney hit post with a superb strike.
Bruna was a whisker away from making it 3-1 with a long range driver that landed just wide.
The home side had a great chance for an equaliser after 70 minutes when Wade saw a sight of goal, but a magnificent challenge from John Flanagan put him off his stride.
Liverpool made it 3-1 five minutes from time with a great finish from Alex Cooper. Substitute Michael Ngoo made the goal with a fantastic run down the right and from his cross, Cooper fired home.
Skelmersdale United then made it a frantic last few minutes for the Reds when O'Donnell netted from close range to make it 3-2, and only a superb last ditch challenge from Emmanuel Mendy denied them a stoppage time equaliser.
Then at the other end Vincent Weijl almost made it 4-2 but his powerful drive was superbly kept out by Eastham.
Captain Andre Wisdom was then presented with the magnificent Liverpool County FA Senior Cup trophy as the reserves retained the trophy.
Skelmersdale United: Damien Eastham, Chris Almond, Paul Byrne, Rob McIntosh, Shaun Foster, Aaron Turner, Paul Woolcott, Phil Mooney (Andy Walmsley 58), Karl O'Donnell, Ryan Wade (Peter Birch 83), Karl Ledsham.
Liverpool Reserves: Martin Hansen, John Flanagan, Emmanuel Mendy, Michael Roberts (Nicolaj Kohlert 65), Andre Wisdom, Conor Coady, Toni Silva (Vincent Weijl 85), Victor Palsson, Nikola Saric, Gerardo Bruna (Michael Ngoo 76), Alex Cooper.
Referee: Mr AW Pownall.
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Conor Coady. He and Andre Wisdom were rock solid at the back but Coady just shades it.
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