Everton Under-19s, 2000-01

 Friendlies and Other U-19 Team Matches

 FA PREMIER YOUTH ACADEMY LEAGUE

The Under-19s League set-up for this season is a bit different from last season.  Clubs in the FA Premier Youth Academy League at Under-19 Level are split up into four regional groups of 10 teams each:

  Group B (NA)     Group A (NE)   Group C (Mid)   Group D (S)
Blackburn Rvrs   Barnsley       Aston Villa     Bristol City  
Bolton Wndrs     Derby County   Arsenal         Chelsea  
Crewe Alexandra  Huddersfield T Birmingham C    Crystal Pal
Everton          Leeds United   Charlton Ath    Fulham   
Liverpool        Leicester C    Coventry City   QPR         
Manchester Utd   Middlesbrough  Ipswich Town    Reading
Manchester City  Newcastle Utd  Millwall        Southampton
Stoke City       Notts Forest   Norwich         Tottenham H
Wolverhampton W  Sheffield Wed  Peterborough    West Ham Utd
Wrexham          Sunderland     Watford         Wimbledon   

The season starts with some inter-group matches against teams from the farthest (geographically) regional groups.  For Everton, that means a game with a team in Groups C, and D.  Everton then play three teams from the closest Group A.

For the main part of the season, Everton play each of the other teams in the local Group A, both home and away.  They then finish up playing each of the remaining teams in Group B just once, giving 28 matches in all.  By finishing top of their regional Group table, Everton progressed direct to the semi-final of the national playoffs, but fell to Nottingham Forest.

 GROUP B TABLE, 2000-01

The top four teams go forward to the National Playoffs

 U-19 MATCH DETAILS

 Bristol City 1 - 0 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Beck , Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Curran.
Subs used: Eaton? Penman?  Scorers: None.

Sorry, no report available

 Everton 2 - 0 Charlton Athletic

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Beck (56' Eaton), Kearney, Chadwick, Lester (70' Penman), Curran.
Subs not used: Black.  Scorers: Chadwick (13', 89').  Ref: Mr S Burston.  Att: 93

Steve Milne:  We finally got to see Everton's latest youth team acquisition, our £45,000 goalkeeper from Scunthorpe – apparently not a transfer fee but a compensation fee.  For the first 45 mins, Andrew Pettinger had nothing to do whatsoever.  The Blues had total control of the game although, we only had a couple of real chances.

On 12 mins Beck ran at the defence and his shot was saved by Charlton's keeper's legs.  A minute later, on the opposite side of the field, an identical run was made by Chadwick but, this time, his low hard shot beat the keeper to make it 1-0.

The only other real chance of the first half came on 20 mins, Valentine had a shot from some 30 yds, just edge over the bar.

Half time: Everton 1 - 0 Charlton Athletic

Pettinger had his first taste of action on 54 mins, easily tipping over a good Charlton effort. Lester had a couple of attempts on 59 mins and Curran had an attempt on 74 mins. This seemed to turn the tide. All the hard work seemed to be paying off, for within 2 mins on the 75 and 76 min, Eaton (who had come on for Beck to play alongside Chadwick up front) hit the bar and then hit the post.

Two mins later Curran hit a free kick which was goal bound, only to be denied by a spectacular save from Charlton's keeper, Brennan. By this time, the Blues were laying siege for the Charlton goal. O'Hanlon had a near post header from a corner, somehow a Charlton defender cleared the ball from underneath the bar.

The second goal finally came on 89 mins, Chadwick again the scorer although, all the praise must go to young Eaton, who did all the hard work, getting himself in the box, only to be brought down, but the ball rolled into the path of Chadwick who side-footed into the empty net (the referee clearly playing the advantage rule).

Eaton in injury time, again had a certain goal cleared off the line (he was destined to score today - I don't think).

 Leicester City 2 - 1 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, Penman (Beck), Pilkington, Lester, Valentine, Kearney, Chadwick (Rooney), Eaton, Curran.
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: Rooney.

We have no report on this match but we can note that 14-year-old Wayne Rooney came on as a substitute for Nick Chadwick, and scored the consolation goal in his first game at this level.

 Everton 1 - 1 Sunderland

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Beck, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Curran 
Subs not used: Eaton, Crowder. Scorers: Chadwick

Sorry, no report yet

 Everton 1 - 0 Leeds United

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Valentine, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Curran, Crowder, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Eaton. Subs Used: Brown, Rooney.
Subs not used: Black (GK) Colbeck, Symes. Scorer: O'Hanlon (25').

Steve Milne: With the first team having a training session before leaving for Leicester, the U-19 game today was put back a couple of hours to 2pm.

On a perfect day for football, Everton's youngsters ran out 1-0 winners over Leeds this afternoon.  We did, however, make extremely hard work of it. 

For the first 45 mins, Leeds were very tight at the back allowing the Blues only a couple of half chances before O'Hanlon headed the only goal of the day.  This came from Kearney's corner and O'Hanlon using his strength headed home.  

Our only other half-chances fell to Lester from a free kick some 30 yds out and, a minute later, Chadwick heading just over the bar.  Chadwick had a second chance on 38 mins finding himself with a one-on-one with the keeper who bravely dived at his feet.

Half time: Everton 1 - 0 Leeds

Leeds were even harder to break down in the second 45 mins. Everton did not even have a quarter of a chance the entire second half.  If Leeds had a bit more firepower up front, they would have troubled us.  However, the score remained 1-0 and a win is a win.

 Huddersfield Town 0 - 1 Everton 

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Valentine, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Lester, Beck, Kearney, Chadwick, Curran, Eaton.
Subs used: Penman. Subs not used: n/a. Scorers: Eaton.

Sorry, no report available

 Everton 1 - 1 Derby County 

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Valentine, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Lester, Beck, Kearney, Chadwick, Curran, Eaton.
Subs not used: Penman, Price, Baker. Scorers: Eaton (18').
Bookings: None.  Ref: Mr A Brown.  Attendance: 49 

Steve Milne:  This morning, the choice was between watching the Under-17s against Forest or, the U-19s versus Derby – the U-19s won the toss.  So, as I stand in the pouring rain for the first 45 mins at Bellefield, watching a pretty poor first half performance, I wonder if I made the right choice... 

We did however score on 18 mins.  This came from a corner that was fired in at some pace.  An Everton player got some part of his body to it but the attempt was cleared off the line, only for a repeat performance with Derby once again clearing the ball off the line. Chadwick at this point headed the ball into the back of the net (I'm not too sure if the goal was given for his header or one of the previous attempts cleared off the line – I thought it was Chadwick's, but the ref gave it to Eaton).

The only other real piece of action in the first half, came from our "Find of the Year" – in the shape of young Andrew Pettinger – who pulled off a fantastic save, to deny Derby an equaliser.

Half-time: Everton 1 - 0 Derby County

As the rain eased off, the quality of play improved. On 50 mins, Eaton tried to latch on to a cross, unmarked in the box.  He just failed to get a touch, for a certain goal. 3 mins later, Chadwick found himself with the ball at his feet following a terrible Derby defensive error.  He advanced with just the keeper to beat but placed his shot just wide of the post. 

On 68 mins, Everton found themselves 3 against 2 Derby defenders, again with just the keeper to beat at the end of the move and this time, we did waste the chance appallingly.  On 71 mins, Eaton found himself yet again put through from midfield, with a 1-on-1 with the keeper and, as is par for the course, also put that shot wide.  Derby County had a corner on 80 mins.  Pettinger punched the ball clear only to see it fall to Derby County's Smith, who hit a speculative shot through a melee of players and scored, much to the dismay of the watching Colin Harvey.

 Everton 2 - 1 Middlesbrough

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Valentine, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Lester, Penman, Kearney, Chadwick,  Curran, Eaton. Subs used: Price, Beck. 
Subs not used: Gibson. Scorers: Pilkington, Eaton.

Sorry, no report available

 Everton 3 - 0 Stoke City

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Valentine, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Lester, Penman, Kearney, Chadwick, Curran, Eaton. Subs used: Beck, Rooney
Subs not used: Price, Black, Schumacher. Scorers: Chadwick, O'Hanlon Valentine.

Sorry, no report

 Liverpool 2 - 1 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Valentine, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Lester, Beck (84' Penman), Kearney, Chadwick, Curran, Eaton (74' Price)
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: Chadwick (85').

Steve Milne Well then, with both Everton Youth Academy teams playing this morning at the same venue – away to Liverpool – which to go and see?  U19's was the choice; the weather was a bit on the wet side, and this did nothing to help the football, although in the first 45 mins Everton had three chances.

The first came after 2 mins, when some slack Liverpool defending let in Chadwick with more time than he thought he had, but his snap-shot hit the post.  On the half-our mark, Eaton had a weak shot from inside the box blocked, a couple of mins later Beck forced the Liverpool keeper into a save with a low hard shot into the bottom corner.

Half time: Liverpool 0 - 0 Everton

Liverpool now have a tea wagon for us fans to have a nice cup of tea.

The rain decided to pour, and I mean pour. On the hour mark, we went 1-0 down a cross-shot that went in off a deflection.  16 mins later we where 2-0 down.  At this point, Andy Holden made a change with Price on for Eaton (78mins), then Penman on for Beck (84 mins).

Within a minute Penman put a ball through from midfield, Chadwick made the timed run, rounded the keeper, and scored at the second attempt.  We could have made it 2-2 right at the death, when Hogg had a header cleared off the line at the back post.

 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 - 5 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester Curran, Penman. Subs used: Beck, Eaton.
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: Chadwick 3, Lester, Pilkington.

Sorry, no report

 Everton 0 - 0 Blackburn Rovers

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Penman (Beck), Kearney, Lester, Curran, Eaton (Chadwick). 
Subs not used: #. Scorers: None.

Sorry, no report

 Everton 3 - 0 Bolton Wanderers 

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Curran (Carney), Kearney, Chadwick, Lester (Jones), Eaton (Brown).
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: Chadwick, Lester, Valentine.

Sorry, no report

 Crewe Alexandra 1 - 3 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, Clarke, Pilkington, Valentine, Eaton, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Curran.
Subs not used: #. Scorers: Chadwick 3.

Sorry, no report

 Blackburn Rovers 1 - 4 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Eaton, Kearney, Chadwick (Garside), Lester (Carney), Curran.
Subs not used: #. Scorers: Curran, Lester, Kearney, Chadwick.

Sorry, no report

 Everton 1 - 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Everton:   Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Curran, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester (Brown), Eaton.
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: Chadwick.

Sorry, no report

 Everton 0 - 1 Manchester City

Everton: Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Eaton, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Curran. 
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: None.

Sorry, no report

 Bolton Wanderers 0 - 3 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Eaton (B Moogan), Kearney, Chadwick, Lester (Rooney), Curran.
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: Rooney, Chadwick 2

Sorry, no report

 Manchester United 0 - 1 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Eaton, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Curran.
Subs not used: #. Scorers: Lester (pen).

Sorry, no report (team sheet is unconfirmed)

 Stoke City 1 - 2 Everton

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Curran, Brown, Kearney, Chadwick (89' Rooney), Carney (68' B Moogan).
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: Kearney (39'), Chadwick (51').

Steve Milne:  Newcastle Town's pitch is not the greatest but, then again, most pitches at this time of year are pretty bad.  The Blues found it very difficult underfoot but still ran out 2-1 winners against Stoke.

Our first goal came on 39 mins when Carney found Kearney with a nice defence-splitting ball and, once inside the box, Kearney made space for himself, side-footing the ball past the keeper from some 12 yds out.  Stoke did hit the woodwork a couple of times but offered no real threat.

Half time: Stoke 0 - 1 Everton

At the start of the second half, the heavens opened, making the pitch even heavier.  Young Scotty Brown – who is still at school, by the way – ran the full length of the right wing to hit a deep cross that was headed back into the path of a waiting Chadwick.  From a couple of yards out, he couldn't miss.  Chadwick again, on 74 mins, had the ball in the back of the net from a header but the referee ruled interference with the keeper.

Stoke on 76 mins clawed a goal back from well outside the area.  Their number 10, Thompson, hit a wonderful shot that Pettinger did get a hand to, but the power of the shot carried it into the net.

A good result and a useful display from Everton's U-19 side who still remain top of their group in the FA Youth Academy U-19 League.

 Everton 2 - 1 Liverpool

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Brown (79' B Moogan), Kearney, Chadwick, Lester (60' Doherty), Eaton.
Subs not used: N/A. Scorers: O'Hanlon, Chadwick.

Sorry, no report available

 Everton 5 - 0 Wrexham  

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Beck, Kearney, Chadwick (70' Doherty), Brown (78' B Moogan), Eaton.
Subs not used: N/A.  Scorers:  Beck (24', 48'), Valentine (56'), Eaton (67', 74'). 

Steve Milne: We looked the better team and we ran out winners.  Wrexham did not have one real chance in the whole 90 mins.

Chadwick worked hard and came close a couple of times. He hit the bar with a nice lob.  Our first goal came on 24 mins, when Price crossed the ball in and Beck, with his back to goal, scored with an overhead kick: 1-0.  Then Eaton found himself in the 6-yd box, having done all the hard work, only to blast the ball well over the bar.

Half Time:  Everton 1 - 0 Wrexham

Within a couple of mins of the re-start, Beck had his second goal of the game, a blast from 30 yards out into the top right hand corner.  Valentine then got his name on the score sheet with a right footed effort from inside the box.

I don't think Wrexham entered the Everton penalty area in the second half.  Eaton scored a couple of goals, the first on 67 mins – another long range effort, the keeper had no chance.  Then, 7 mins later, with the keeper coming out to meet the advancing Eaton, he calmly lobbed him to make the final score line 5-0.

 Wrexham 1 - 2 Everton  

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Southern, Lester, Carney, Kearney, Chadwick (Symes),  Eaton, Crowder.
Subs not used: Pilkington, Valentine, A Moogan, Colbeck.  Scorer:  Lester 2 (1 pen). 

Sorry, no report available

 Nottingham Forest 1 - 3 Everton  

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Beck, Kearney, Chadwick, Crowder, Eaton.
Subs not used: B Moogan, Carney.  Scorers:  Chadwick (4', 73'), Valentine (50').

Steve Milne:  With Forest being top of their Group in the FA U-19 Academy League and us being top of our group, you'd have thought that it would have been a good, hard battle.  The scoreline tells you otherwise.

Apart from a 15 minute spell, Everton's kids reigned supreme, but RAIN dominated this one.  In appallingly wet conditions, the Blues ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.  Chadwick's first, on 4 mins with a header from a free kick, flicked on by the head of O'Hanlon; Chadwick battled the keeper to head home.

On 25 mins, the hard-working Eaton laid the ball back to Kearney, whose shot was goal bound, only to be denied by some excellent keeping.  Forest did hit the woodwork once in the first half, but that was the only threat to Pettinger's goal.

Half time: Notts Forest 0 - 1 Everton

Within a couple of minutes of the restart, Forest had a free kick on the right-hand side of the box, fired in with some pace.  Everton were unable to clear, and they paid the penalty by conceding the goal.  Within 60 seconds however, Valentine, found the ball at his feet, 25 yds out on the left-hand side of the box and with his left foot he hit a wonderful cross-shot that flew into the back of the Forest net with their keeper absolutely nowhere.

Our third goal, came from a Crowder cross, which found Chadwick with time and space on the 6-yd line to head home.  Despite the conditions, we ran out convincing winners.  With another couple of games to catch up on, we will most certainly now finish top of our group.

 Manchester City 1 - 0 Everton  

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Colbeck, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington (53' R Southern), Valentine, Beck (67' Crowder), Lester (87' Schumacher), Chadwick, Eaton. 
Subs not used: Curran.  Scorers:  None. 

Steve Milne:   The Blues today were a bit lack-lustre in attack; Pilkington and Pettinger together kept the score for the first 45 mins to 0-0.  Pilkington especially with a goal-line clearance on 8 mins and a superb block tackle in the 6-yd box. Pettinger showed his class on 10 mins with a superb save.  Our only effort for the first half was a Chadwick weak shot from the edge of the box.

Half time: Man City 0 - 0 Everton

In the second 45 mins, we were creatively limited to 3 attempts on goal. 66 mins, Chadwick had a cross shot but nobody in support to finish off. A couple of minutes later, Price from the right wing, a low hard cross, met by Chadwick, who flicked the ball and hit the post. Deep into injury time, Valentine saw his effort touched over the bar by their keeper.

The City winner came on 62 mins. Why the penalty was given, I don't really know, nor did anybody standing next to me! But a penalty it was, and that was the difference between the two sides, so our winning streak comes to an end.

 Everton 2 - 0 Crewe Alexandra   

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Clarke, Valentine, Curran, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester (Crowder), Eaton
Subs not used: N/A.  Scorers:  Clarke, Chadwick. 

Sorry, no report available

 Newcastle United 0 - 1 Everton  

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Valentine, Curran (B Moogan), Crowder (Brown), Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Eaton
Subs not used: N/A.  Scorer:  Chadwick. 

Sorry, no report available

 Everton 0 - 0 Manchester United   

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine, Crowder, Curran, Chadwick, Lester, Eaton. 
Subs: B Moogan, Black, Brown.  Scorers: None. 

Sorry, no report available

 Nottingham Forest 2 - 0 Everton  

Everton:  Pettinger, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Clarke, Valentine, Curran, Kearney, Chadwick, Lester, Eaton. 
Subs not used: N/A.  Scorer:  None. 

Sorry, no report available

 U-19 Team Appearances and Goals, 2000-01

 PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES

 Everton 2 - 0 Wigan

Everton:  Trialist, Hogg, Moogan, O'Hanlon, Pilkington, Valentine (Kearney), Penman (Beck), Lester, Symes (Schumacher), Eaton (Chadwick), Curran.
Subs not used: None. Scorers: Symes, Chadwick.

Sorry, no report available