Before Storm Darragh had begun to wreak havoc in the UK and, in particular, the Everton first team’s Merseyside Derby game against Liverpool, both the Under-18s and Under-21s were in action late last week.
Firstly, on Thursday, the Under 18s made the long trip to the North East worthwhile as goals from Kean Wren and Ceiran Loney secured a 3-2 victory over Sunderland. The only surprise was that Braiden Graham failed to score which is almost a newsworthy headline in itself. The simple explanation, of course, was that he sat this one out!
The opening goal came in the 5th minute as a nicely weighted ball by Joshua Van Schoor was equalled by the strong run of Loney. His pull back was clinically converted by Wren who had found a smart position in the penalty area. 1-0.
That lead lasted until almost the hour mark when Van Schoor was unlucky to see his sliding intervention not quite go out for a corner and Scott was on hand to give the home side parity, 1-1.
Within 5 minutes, the Toffees had regained the lead following patient build up that ended with a lofted shot/ cross by Wren that crept inside the far post. 1-1 and Wren, playing centrally rather than as a winger, now has 5 goals for the season and 3 in his last 2 games!
That Blues’ lead was extended 11 minutes later as, following a fine flowing 4 man move down the left, young Scotsman Loney was on hand, where good strikers should be, on the edge of the 6 yard box, to neatly turn home with the outside of his foot. 3-1.
As the game became end-to-end, Sunderland pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining with a fine header by Kindon, no blame for the Blues defenders, it was a great finish, 3-2.
The goals are below:
To follow on from that game, the Under 21s, bolstered by the appearance of first-teamer Youssef Chermiti, saw out a 0-0 game at a wintery Walton Hall Park on the Friday night, just hours before the storm came properly inland on Merseyside. The Toffees lined up as below:
The Under 21s were close to securing Premier League Cup victory, most notably when leading goalscorer, Charlie Whitaker, was played in late in the game and his well struck shot hit the far post with nobody able to take advantage of the rebound.
I watched the game live and Chermiti showed good movement and hold-up play without ever truly threatening to score. It’s obvious to see that he is getting fitter and sharper though which is good news as the first team will need all bodies available over the congested December and January months. I have to say that the real momentum for the Under 21s on the night was after a raft of substitutions in the second half. We saw lively appearances from Luke Butterfield, Callum Bates and Isaac Heath, all of whom have been regulars training with the first team. Young Under 18s regular, striker George Morgan also looked sharp. In goal, George Pickford also did his blossoming reputation no harm with a string of excellent saves including an outstanding double stop to preserve the clean sheet. Heath did actually get the ball in the net but was flagged marginally offside.
Next up for the Under 18s is a game I always look forward to as they begin their FA Youth Cup journey under the lights of Goodison Park against Nottingham Forest. There is bags of talent in the Blues ranks this term and I can safely predict that it won’t be a goalless draw! Can they have a good run this year?
The Under 21s are not in action until next Monday night at Leicester City.
