RICARDO Vaz Te returned to goalscoring form as a strong Wanderers Reserves line-up overcame Liverpool on Tuesday night.
The Portuguese starlet, whose appearances for the second string have been limited since he broke into the first team squad in December, struck five minutes from time to earn Wanderers victory.
Vaz Te's only goal since the turn of the year came in the FA Cup win at Oldham Athletic, but he displayed all his striking instincts to latch on to Henrik Pedersen's pass and fire past Liverpool keeper Paul Harrison.
Wanderers fielded an experienced side for the clash at the County Ground, Leyland, with only Bedi Buval having not previously made a senior appearance.
Julio Cesar made his comeback after breaking a bone in his foot in Wanderers' defeat at Old Trafford, while Ivan Campo and Radhi Jaidi both appeared unflustered as they completed an hour in a match that the Whites dominated for long periods.
However the opening goal did not come until the 49th minute, when Khalilou Fadiga benefited from a deflection that guided his 25-yard effort past a stranded Harrison.
Buval had earlier struck the outside of the post, while Fadiga severely tested Harrison with a curling free kick, before his searching ball created an opening that Vaz Te squandered.
A youthful Liverpool equalised in the 59th minute as Kevin Poole, who had previously kept out attempts from David Mannix and Danny Guthrie, could only parry a Ryan Wilkie shot, allowing Paul Barratt to tap in the rebound.
And Phil Townley should have put the Reds ahead before Vaz Te bagged Wanderers' winner.
Wanderers (4-3-3): Poole; Barness, Jaidi (Talbot 62), Laville, Cesar (Powell 77); O'Brien, Campo (Whitehead 62), Fadiga; Vaz Te, Buval, Pedersen. Subs not used: Howarth, Sinclair.
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