After the first team’s disappointing result at home to Bournemouth, any chances of putting a smile on Evertonians’ faces were dashed clinically by Manchester City in two back to back youth games on Sunday.
Firstly, on Sunday morning at Finch Farm, the Everton Under-18s fell to a heavy 0-4 defeat. A very young Blues side was hampered after the 62nd minute sending off (double yellow) of centre midfielder Melvin Matos.
The game itself saw City, fielding Reigan Heskey (son of former Liverpool and England striker Emile) and he was on the scoresheet along with Matthew Warhurst (a brace) and a Divine Mukasa penalty. Everton’s best chances were a Ceiran Loney goalbound shot which was blocked at the last second and Braiden Graham’s deflected shot in the second half that almost caught the goalkeeper out.
Later in the afternoon, an interesting name appeared on the Everton Under 21 team sheet, a name that was more familiar to fans of the opposition. Jamal Baptiste, a centre back, played for City’s Under 21s until July this year. It’s not 100% clear but the 20 year old Londoner who spent three years at West Ham’s academy may have been on trial. He is known to be a free agent and we also know he had a period on a prolonged trial at Portsmouth earlier this summer. The 0-5 scoreline won’t have boosted his chances! The opportunity probably came about quickly following the loan departure of regular Blues’ centre back Eli Campbell and the absence of recent defensive signing Will Tamen.
A disappointment, besides the result, for the Under 21s was the dismissal on the stroke of half-time for Charlie Whitaker who, already on a yellow card, was given a second yellow for ‘simulation’ which, in itself, is quite a rarity these days. Double yellows were clearly not as rare for the young Toffees’ teams this weekend though!
The reasonably strong Blues had fielded right back Roman Dixon, centre midfielder Harrison Armstrong and centre back Reece Welch who had been involved with the first team pre-season. The former two had been on the bench against Bournemouth 24 hours earlier and will have been thankful for 90 minutes of action although I am not so sure they’d have been happy about the result!
The City onslaught began in the 34th minute when Alfa-Ruprecht got the first of his brace. Other goalscorers were Obouavwoduo, also with a brace, and Alleyne. Whilst the Toffees had 11 men on the pitch the score had been 0-2 but they were overwhelmed in the second half with just 10 men sadly and shipped 5 goals overall without reply.
To bring some glimmer of hope in a miserable week, the under 18s did have an impressive Under 18 Premier League Cup win on the Thursday, 4-2 on the south coast against Southampton.
The first goal saw build up by livewire winger Joel Catesby and overlapping left back Joshua van Schoor. The latter’s fine cross was turned back by Kean Wren for an emphatic finish by young Scotsman Ceiran Loney, 1-0.
The score was doubled with Catesby again involved, intercepting a pass and beating two men before setting up Kean Wren for a good finish, 2-0.
The third goal showed great skill and composure as Braiden Graham received the ball 2 yards inside his own half, outpaced the Saints defence before nutmegging the goalkeeper to score a fine goal, 3-0.
Aston Daley pulled a goal back for Southampton to make it 3-1 before, with 2 minutes left, a Wren corner was headed home by Blues centre back Aled Thomas, 4-1 . There was still time for a very harsh penalty award against Toffees ‘keeper Lukjanciks who clearly got to the ball before colliding with a Saints striker. Penalty converted by Oyekunle, 4-2 and a fine victory for Leighton Baines’ team.
The goals are captured below:
As the lyrics to a famous song go “Things can only get better” and the Under 21s can set about proving that on Friday September 13th at home to Watford in the Premier League Cup.
The Under 18s have until Saturday Sept 21st to wait, with a home game against Nottingham Forest.