EVERTON U18s, 2009-10

 
Manager: Neil Dewsnip

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 FA PREMIER YOUTH ACADEMY U-18 LEAGUE

 FIXTURES AND RESULTS, 2009-10

Date   Ven Opponents               Result  Pos  Scorers                   
Link to Official Site

August 2009

Sat 22 (h) West Ham United           L 1-2 10th  Sheppard
Sat 29 (a) Coventry City             L 1-2 10th  Donegan

September

Sat  5 (h) Sunderland                W 5-2  7th  Codling 2, Wallace, Craig, Baxter 
Sat 12 (a) Sheffield Wednesday       D 2-2  7th  Forshaw, Nsiala
Sat 19 (a) Nottingham Forest         L 0-1  8th  —
Sat 26 (h) Bolton Wanderers          L 4-5  7th  Baxter 2, McAleny 2

October

Sat  3 (a) Manchester United         w 2-1  6th  Craig, Codling
Sat 10 (h) West Bromwich Albion      L 1-3  8th  Baxter
Sat 31 (a) Liverpool                 W 2-0  7th  Murphy, McAleny

November

Sat  7 (h) Manchester City           W 2-0  6th  McCarten, McAleny 
Sat 21 (h) Stoke City                W 1-0  5th  Murphy

December 2009

Fri  4 (h) Blackburn Rovers          D 0-0  5th  —
Sat 12 (a) Wolverhampton Wanderers   W 5-0  4th  Nsiala, Barkley, McAleny 2, Thompson

February 2010

Sat  6 (a) Blackburn Rovers          W 1-0 4th  Hope
Sat 13 (h) Wolverhampton Wanderers   W 3-0 3rd  Craig, Hope, McAleny
Sat 20 (a) Bolton Wanderers          W 2-0 2nd  Codling 2 

March

Sat  6 (a) West Bromwich Albion      D 2-2 2nd  McCarten, McAleny
Tue  9 (h) Liverpool                 L 3-4 2nd  Baxter, Mustafi, Nsiala
Sat 13 (h) Huddersfield Town         W 3-2 1st  Baxter 2, Akpan
Sat 20 (a) Middlesbrough             W 3-0 1st  Forrester, Bidwell, Barnett
Sat 27 (h) Sheffield United          D 0-0 2nd  —

April

Sat 17 (a) Barnsley                  D 1-1 2nd  Bidwell
Thu 22 (h) Crewe Alexander           W 2-0 2nd  Donegan 2
Sat 24 (h) Newcastle United          W 1-0 2nd  Bidwell
Tue 27 (a) Stoke City                L 1-2 2nd  Codling

May 2010

Sat  1 (a) Crewe Alexander           W 2-1 1st  Murphy, Codling
Tue  4 (h) Manchester United         L 0-2 2nd  —
Sat  8 (a) Manchester City           W 5-2 2nd  McAleny 3, Wallace, Murphy

 2009 Friendlies and Other U-18 Team Matches

Day  Date  Ven Opponents              Res  Rnd  Scorers                              

Sat 25 Jul (n) Fulham                W 2-1 S-F  Nsiala (2)
Sun 26 Jul (a) Southend United       W 2-2  F   Sheppard (2 pens)  4 - 2 on penalties

 FA PREMIER YOUTH ACADEMY LEAGUE

  
The FA Premier Youth Academy comprises one Youth League team at Under-18 level.  There are a parallel set of friendly games playing the same fixtures at Under-16 level, but they will not count towards any league table and are not reported here.

The current set-up for the FA Premier Youth Academy has four or five regional groups of 10 teams each:

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

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

For the main part of the season, Everton play each of the other teams in their local Group, both home and away.  They finish up playing each of the other teams in Group A again, giving 28 matches in all.  
  

 FA PREMIER YOUTH ACADEMY LEAGUE U-18 (NW Section) GROUP TABLE, 2009-10

  UNDER-18 YOUTH ACADEMY LEAGUE — Match Details

 Everton 1 - 2 West Ham United

Everton: Davies, Thompson, Nsiala, Barnett, Garbutt, Bidwell, Donegan, Craig, Orenuga, Codling, Sheppard (70' McAleny).
Subs not used:  Cummins, Dobie, Roberts, Murphy. Scorers: Sheppard.

Everton under-18s lost their opening match of the season 2-1 to West Ham United. It was a disappointing start to the FA Premier Academy League season fas they played well enough to have taken something from the match.

The Hammers took a 10th-minute lead, but Karl Sheppard netted from Lewis Codling’s cross to level before half-time. In the second-half, Everton had few chances, but late on Femi Orenuga, on his debut, was denied by the keeper as he went through one-on-one and from the rebound Codling couldn’t scramble the ball home. But with five minutes left West Ham scored their second following a corner.

With seconds remaining, substitute Conor McAleny saw a header to earn a point saved superbly by the West Ham keeper.

 Coventry City 2 - 1 Everton 

Everton:  Davies, Thompson, Nsiala, Murphy, Barnett, Donegan, Craig, Orenuga, Codling, Sheppard (McAleny 25), Hope (Dobie75).
Subs not used:  Cummins, Roberts. Scorers: Donegan.

IT has been a disappointing start to the season for Everton under-18s, as they went down to their second 2-1 defeat of the season at Coventry City. With Luke Garbutt and Jake Bidwell away with England under-17s and several other youngsters on duty with the first team and reserves, the start of the season has seen Everton’s squad stretched. Saturday gave another chance for players to show what they can do, but in the main it was a disappointing performance.

In an even first half there were few chances. Adam Davies had to make one fine save in the Everton goal, while Lewis Codling went close.  But in the second half Coventry took over. They scored two goals and but for keeper Davies, who made three or four excellent saves, Everton would have suffered a heavier defeat.

Neil. Dewsnip’s side rallied late on and pulled it back with a fine effort from Tom Donegan and had a couple of chances to grab a point.  But they failed to take them and suffered a second successive defeat. 

 Everton 5 - 2 Sunderland   

Everton:  Davies; Donegan, Nsiala, McCarten, Bidwell; Craig, Wallace, Forshaw; Akpan, Codling (McAleny 75), Baxter.
Subs not used: Roberts, Orenuga, Thompson, Garbutt.  Scorers: Codling 2, Wallace, Craig, Baxter.

After falling behind inside 3 minutes, Lewis Codling levelled the scores in the sixth minute, then James Wallace struck just two minutes later. Welshman Nathan Craig was next on the scoresheet, making it 3-1 after 25 minutes. Then Codling capped a fine first-half comeback with his second on the stroke of half-time.

Predictably, the second half wasn't as much of a goal feast, but the Black Cats did threaten a comeback with their second goal five minutes after the break. Everton held firm though and Jose Baxter grabbed the fifth goal ten minutes from time. 

 Sheffield Wednesday 2 - 2 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Thompson, Garbutt, Nsiala, McCarten, Kinsella, Forshaw(65' Orenuga) , Donegan, Codling, Sheppard, Craig
Subs not used: Roberts Dobie, Murphy, Cummins,  Scorers: Forshaw,  Nsiala

After last week’s 5-2 victory Everton began in buoyant mood and took the lead on 14 minutes with a fine strike from Adam Forshaw.  Everton had the better of the first half with centre-back James McCarten going close with a header from a Nathan Craig free-kick. Striker Lewis Codling almost went close.

In the second half, though, Wednesday hit back and drew level through a headed effort on 53 minutes when they capitalised on some hesitancy in the Everton defence. Both sides traded blows in an end-to-end contest and Wednesday went ahead with 20 minutes left. But with time running Aristotle Nsiala made up for his error in the build-up to Wednesday’s second goal when scoring the equaliser stabbing home following a corner. Late on substitute Femi Orenuga had two good chances to win it, but couldn’t take them.

 Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Everton

Everton:  Davies; Mustafi, Nsiala, Duffy, Garbutt; Akpan, Wallace, Craig; Forshaw (Donegan 75), Baxter, Codling (McAleny 70).
Subs not used: Roberts, Kinsella.  Scorers: None.

The home side started a bit better than Everton and following a free-kick the referee gave Forest a penalty after the ball hit Duffy’s hand. It appeared the Everton defender was pushed, but Forest took advantage of their fortune to convert the spot-kick and take the lead.

Everton tried their best to get back into the match with Baxter trying his luck with a couple of long-range efforts that failed to trouble the keeper. Towards the end of the first half 17-year-old German right-back Shkodran Mustafi – a summer recruit from Hamburg – twice had headers from Nathan Craig corners cleared off the line.

After the break Everton battled away to grab an equaliser and created plenty of chances. They almost got the leveller following a couple of changes from coach Dewsnip halfway through the second half. Conor McAleny and Tom Donegan replaced Lewis Codling and Adam Forshaw.

 Everton 4 - 5 Bolton Wanderers

Everton:  Roberts; Mustafi, Nsiala, Duffy (McCarten 45), Garbutt; Bidwell, Akpan, Kinsella; Forshaw (Codling 60), Baxter, McAleny.
Subs not used: Davies, Donegan, Craig.  Scorers: Baxter 2, McAleny 2.

Everton took the lead after just four minutes through Jose Baxter. But they were soon level after a mistimed header from Shane Duffy was pounced on by a Bolton forward who headed the equaliser. Everton went back in front through a superb 20-yard strike from Conor McAleny.

As the match continued to swing from end to end, Bolton equalised again after keeper Connor Roberts misjudged a corner and the visitors headed in. Bolton took the lead when they curled a free-kick, awarded for a foul by Duffy, into the top corner just before the break.

Then early in the second half it was 4-2 when another defensive error saw Everton keeper Roberts beaten by a chipped effort. And after Roberts failed to deal with a shot properly, Bolton followed up to build up a three-goal cushion.

Everton, though, rallied with half an hour to go McAleny scored his second when one-on-one with the keeper. Baxter grabbed his second following a corner to give hope of at least a point. They almost grabbed it, but the Bolton keeper made a superb save from Gerard Kinsella.

 Manchester United 1 - 2 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Nsiala, Barkley, McCarten, Garbutt, Craig, Donegan, Kinsella, Orenuga (Codling 45), Forshaw, McAleny (Sheppard 75).
Subs not used: Roberts, Cummins, Dobie.   Scorers: Craig, Codling 

Nathan Craig opened the scoring on 15 minutes when he followed up after Conor McAleny had been one-on-one with the keeper and saw his shot come back off the post. Everton kept pushing forward and played well with McAleny, Adam Forshaw and Tom Donegan all going close to a second goal.

Everton did double their advantage on the hour when centre-back James McCarten headed home a corner at the near-post with substitute Lewis Codling credited with getting the final touch. Although United were unhappy claiming the ball hadn’t crossed the line.

Everton, though, took the points despite a late consolation strike by Nicky Ajose after a corner as Everton keeper Adam Davies, who in trying to push the ball over the bar, could only help it into the net.

 Everton 1 - 3 West Bromwich Albion

Everton:  Davies, Nsiala, Barkley, McCarten, Bidwell, Garbutt, Donegan, Kinsella, Forshaw, Baxter (Sheppard 70), McAleny (Codling 60).
Subs not used: Roberts, Thompson, Nolan.  Scorers: Baxter.

Jose Baxter scored the opening goal. The 17-year-old Bootle-born forward was on hand to score from close range after Aristote Nsiala has initially connected with Luke Garbutt’s corner.  Everton were good value for their lead and could easily have added to it. Captain Gerard Kinsella fired over from 25 yards, and Conor McAleny saw a cross-shot headed off the line by Baggies defender Sam Mantom.

Everton kept pressing and Garbutt saw on effort saved well by keeper Ryan Allsop and then Baxter saw another effort blocked by Cameron Gayle. But West Brom equalised with two minutes left of the half. Elford-Alliyu scored past Adam Davies when he was sent through on goal. Two minutes after the break the visitors went ahead when Bepamino scored.

Everton pressed for an equaliser and Tom Donegan fired off target from distance. Lewis Codling replaced McAleny and he almost provided the chance for Everton to draw level with 20 minutes left. He pressured the West Brom defence and the ball broke to Garbutt, but his low shot was saved. Everton were left to rue not taking the chance as five minutes later from a breakaway Bepamino curled home to secure the points.

 Liverpool 0 - 2 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Browning, Barkley, McCarten, Murphy, Cummins, Orenuga, McAleny, Dobie, Donegan, Codling, Hope.
Subs not used:  Watson, Thompson, Nolan.  Scorers: Murphy, McAleny.

A closely-fought match appeared to heading for a goalless stalemate until eight minutes from the end when Murphy stabbed home from just outside the six-yard box before McAleny sealed the points two minutes later with a low shot from the edge of the area. There had been little between the sides in a committed opening half.

After the break Everton pressed a bit more and both England under-16s international striker Hallam Hope and Tom Donegan went close. Lewis Codling was also denied on the hour by Liverpool keeper Chris Oldfield following a cross from the impressive Femi Orenuga.

Everton finally made the breakthrough with Daniel Murphy stabbing home his first goal for the U18s after getting on the end of keeper Oldfield’s punch following a corner. Conor McAleny’s fine low shot into the bottom corner soon after sealed a fine victory for Everton.

Everton 2 - 0 Manchester City

Everton:  Davies, Nsiala, McCarten, Garbutt, Murphy, Orenuga (Browning 80), Dobie, Donegan, Akpan, McAleny, Hope (65' Thomas).
Subs not used: Cummins.  Scorers: McCarten, McAleny.

Everton were 2-0 up by half-time. They took the lead after just 10 minutes when centre-back James McCarten rose well to head home Luke Garbutt’s cross.

Midway through the first half the home side doubled their advantage. Conor McAleny, who also sealed the points with the second goal against Liverpool last week, repeated the feat when he cut in from the left and cracked home a superb effort into the bottom corner.

City tried to hit back in the second half, but Everton’s defence were in no mood to let them through. But Everton created the better chances with Femi Orenuga doing well on the right. The only real chance the visitors had was in the last minute but keeper Adam Davies tipped over superbly.

:

 Everton 1 - 0 Stoke City

Everton:  Roberts; Nsiala Garbutt, McCarten, Murphy; Orenuga, Kinsella, Akpan (Barkley 60); Dobie, Sheppard, McAleny (Hope 45).
Subs not used: Thompson, Cummins.  Scorers: Murphy.

Daniel Murphy scored the only goal of the game to give Everton under-18s a 1-0 victory over Stoke City at Finch Farm on Saturday. In difficult windy conditions Neil Dewsnip’s side were happy to come away with all three points in the FA Premier Academy League.

The 17-year-old headed home what turned out to be the winner in off the underside of the bar following a free-kick from just before half-time. Karl Sheppard almost doubled Everton’s advantage soon after but he saw his effort hit the post.

There had been little chance for either side to play too much good football in the blustery conditions but Everton were grateful for a linesman’s flag after the visitors saw a goal ruled out early in the second half. There were few real chances for the rest of the match and Everton held on for the three points.

 Everton 0 - 0 Blackburn Rovers

Everton:  Davies; Browning, Bidwell, Barkley, Nsiala; Mustafi, Donegan, Hope (Orenuga 80); Forshaw, McAleny, Craig (Garbutt 75).
Subs not used: Roberts, Cummins.  Scorers: None.

Ross Barkley and Tom Donegan went close in the first half, but both shot just over the bar.

In the second half Adam Forshaw was denied by a superb save from the Blackburn keeper and substitute Femi Orenuga also went close late on.

 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 - 5 Everton

Everton:  Davies; Browning (75' Murphy), Garbutt, Nsiala, McCarten; Kinsella, Orenuga, Donegan; Dobie, McAleny (61' Thompson), Barkley.
Subs not used: N/A.  Scorers: Nsiala, Barkley (pen), McAleny (2, 1 pen), Thompson

A first-half header from Aristote Nsiala and four second-half goals including two penalties secured a comfortable three points on the road for Neil Dewsnip's young side. The young Toffees' weekend feat helped extend their consecutive clean sheet record to six.

The opening minutes proved very tight with the midlands outfit missing a easy chance to take the lead early on. But as the Blues were rewarded with a free-kick after 15 minutes, Tom Donegan's set piece provided centre-half Nsiala the chance to perform one of his trademark header's and put Everton in front. Despite huge efforts from the hosts to draw level, the Toffees held on to their narrow advantage at the interval.

Two fouls and two penalties awarded to young forward Conor McAleny proved to be the turning point of the game. The first came after 55 minutes as the Wolves' keeper brought McAleny down, and Ross Barkley stepped up to convert confidently into the bottom left corner. The second followed shortly as McAleny fired his spot-kick calmly right of the keeper.

Striker McAleny then got his name on the score sheet for a second time as he latched onto to a fine through-ball to tap home with ease on the hour mark. And as Wolves appeared to look already defeated by Everton's increasing scoreline, the Toffees hit their fifth through subsitute Zac Thompson, as he found way to make a 25-yard run and slot the ball left of the Wolves' stopper after 77 minutes.

 Everton 1 - 0 Blackburn Rovers

Everton:  Davies; Nsiala (60 'Craig), Bidwell, Barkley, Duffy; Donegan, Kinsella, Wallace (55' Forshaw); Garbutt, Baxter (25' Hope), McAleny.
Subs not used: N/A.  Scorers: Hope.

Everton took the lead on the hour. Substitute Hallam Hope applied the finishing touch to Tom Donegan’s cross. Conor McAleny thought he had sealed the points with a second goal late on. But his shot spun along the goal-line and out with the referee’s assistant ruling that it hadn’t crossed it.

 Everton 3 - 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Everton:  Davies, Nsiala, Duffy, Mustafi, Craig, McAleny, Donegan, Kinsella, Forshaw (Orenuga 78), Baxter (Dobie 70), Hope (Thomas 60).
Subs not used: Roberts.  Scorers: Craig, Hope, McAleny.

Goals from Nathan Craig, Hallam Hope and Conor McAleny sealed the win as Neil Dewsnip’s extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches – including an incredible 10 straight clean sheets. With the U18s already in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals they continued to push up the FA Premier Academy League Group C table.

Everton couldn’t find a breakthrough in the first half as Jose Baxter hit the bar. They finally took the lead three minutes into the second half thanks to an excellent low Craig free-kick into the bottom corner of the net. Just 10 minutes later Everton were 2-0 up as Hope finished well after collecting a cross from Gerard Kinsella.

Hope then turned provider with eight minutes left. An excellent run and pass allowed McAleny to tap-in at the far post and sealed another win.

Everton are now up to third in the Group C table three points behind leaders Blackburn Rovers with a game in hand. Everton are at Bolton Wanderers this Saturday.

Everton will be without Ross Barkley for up to a month after the defender has to have a double hernia operation, while James Wallace is also out with a knee injury.

Luke Garbutt has been away with England under-17s at the Algarve Tournament. The defender was an unused substitute in a 1-1 with France on Saturday, but featured as John Peacock’s side beat Ukraine 3-0 on Sunday.

 Bolton Wanderers 0 - 2 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Thompson, Murphy, Barnett, Garbutt, Donegan, Akpan, Dobie, Kinsella (Barrow 88), Hope (Orenuga 60), Codling (Watson 80). .
Subs not used: Roberts.  Scorers: Codling 2.

Everton controlled the game from start to finish, but couldn't finish off the numerous chances they had.

They took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Codling headed home at the far post from Luke Garbutt's cross.

Colding hit his second after latching on to a pass from Gerard Kinsella to go one-on-one with the Bolton keeper before coolly finishing.

 West Bromwhich Albion 2 - 2 Everton

Everton:  Davies; Nsiala, Bidwell, McCarten, Murphy; Orenuga, Dobie (Craig 65), Akpan; Donegan, Codling (Mustafi 75), McAleny (Hope 85).
Subs not used: Roberts.  Scorers: McCarten, McAleny.

Everton took the lead on 25 minutes as James McCarten profited from a goalkeeping error.

Everton keeper Adam Davies superbly saved a harshly awarded penalty in the first half to keep them ahead.

But five minutes before the break West Brom drew level. The Baggies had been the last side to score against Everton in the Academy League almost five months ago. And poor defending saw them repeat that after a goalmouth scramble.

West Brom took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when McCarten's clearance was charged down and the home side got in to score.

But Everton showed their battling qualities and following a tactical switch by coach Dewsnip which defender McCarten moved up front, the centre-back set up Conor McAleny's equaliser on 72 minutes. :

 Everton 3 - 4 Liverpool

Everton:   Davies, Nsiala, Garbutt, Mustafi, Duffy, Donegan, Craig, Wallace, Akpan (Orenuga 55), Baxter, McAleny (Forshaw 55).
Subs not used: Hope, Roberts, Bidwell. Scorers: Baxter, Mustafi, Nsiala.

Everton's Under 18s have suffered an agonising 4-3 defeat to Liverpool at Finch Farm on Tuesday afternoon, in a frustrating affair which saw the Blues finish the game with 10 men. 

The Blues hosted the mini-derby after the fixture was rearranged following Everton's involvement in the FA Youth Cup, but it ended in extreme disappointment for Neil Dewsnip's young side.

It was experienced captain Jose Baxter who opened the scoring for the Toffees on 33 minutes - Liverpool's 'keeper Christopher Oldfield raced out of his area to clear, and the young forward chipped calmly into the net before Oldfield could claim it.

German Under-19 international Shkodran Mustafi then doubled the Blues' advantage on the brink of half-time, flicking the ball home from Baxter's corner.

Heading in with a comfortable lead at the interval, Everton were forced to play the second period with ten men as Shane Duffy received a straight red-card for a foul in the box just seconds in to the half. Liverpool's Michael Roberts was the man to convert from the penalty spot to draw one back for the visitors.

The Reds soon found themselves an equaliser as Krisztian Adjoran netted from 12 yards out on 57 minutes, and soon found themselves ahead through Raheem Sterling – a recent acquisition from Queens Park Rangers. But centre-half Aristote Nsiala inspired a potential comeback for Everton as he drew level just after the hour - slotting home from close range with his left foot. 

Everton rarely threatened the Liverpool goal in the closing minutes and a foul from goal scorer Nsiala gifted the Reds with a second penalty ten minutes from time, which they converted to steal victory.

 Everton 3 - 2 Huddersfield Town

Everton:  Davies, Nsiala, Garbutt, Mustafi, Duffy, Forshaw, Craig, Wallace, Akpan, Baxter, McAleny (Hope 60).
Subs not used: Orenuga, Roberts, Bidwell.  Scorers: Baxter 2, Akpan.

Despite going 2-0 down midway through the first half, two goals from Jose Baxter and one from Hope Akpan allowed Everton to hit back and go top of Group C.

 Middlesbrough 0 - 3 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Barrow, Barnett, Mustafi, Murphy, Orenuga, Bidwell, Dobie, Donegan, Hope, Forrester.
Subs not used: Roberts, Cummins.  Scorers: Forrester, Bidwell, Barnett.

An excellent 3-0 victory at Middlesbrough on Saturday extended Everton Under-18s' lead at the top of the FA Premier Academy League Group C table.

A young Everton side featuring four schoolboys with several chances made by coach Neil Dewsnip's continued their championship charge.

Goals from Anton Forrester, Jake Bidwell and Moses Barnett secured an excellent victory.

Everton took the lead through schoolboy Forrester, on his U18s debut, who fired in after good work by Bidwell on 20 minutes.

Bidwell was in fine form and made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark with an excellent solo goal after he latched onto Luke Dobie's pass.

Everton dominated for much of the match but couldn't add to their tally until 15 minutes from the end when Bidwell and Moses Barnett combined before schoolboy striker Hope finished off an excellent move.

 Everton 0 - 0 Sheffield United

Everton:  Davies, Thompson, Barkley (60' Barrow), Murphy, Barnett, Orenuga, Dobie, Donegan, Bidwell, Forrester, Hope.
Subs not used: Roberts, Cummins.  Scorers: None.

Everton had chances to secure victory on Saturday in a game that was spoilt a bit by the windy conditions. Sheffield had the wind behind them in the first half and almost took the lead when they hit a post following a corner.

But Everton had chances on the break with Femi Orenuga twice going close. In the second half, with the wind at their backs, Everton dominated but couldn't find the breakthrough. Danny Murphy was denied by a superb save from the Sheffield keeper, while late on Hallam Hope saw an effort blocked.

 Barnsley 1 - 1 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Thompson (Barrow 60), Barkley, Murphy, Bidwell, Orenuga, Dobie, Donegan, McAleny, Forrester, Hope.
Subs not used: Roberts, Watson, Cummins.  Scorers: Bidwell.

Jake Bidwell earned Everton under-18s a point as they drew 1-1 at Barnsley on Saturday.

It was the first match for Neil Dewsnip’s side in almost a month Group C sections of the FA Premier Academy League this Saturday at Barnsley this Saturday (kick-off 11am).

Neil Dewsnip’s youngsters have not played since the goalless draw with Sheffield United on March 27 due to the break in fixtures for Easter.

And it was a tough afternoon for Everton who couldn’t find a way through the massed ranks of the Barnsley defence.

Barnsley just before the break after a goalmouth scramble following a long throw into the box. In the melee the ball went in of Everton defender Zak Thompson.

Everton, though, hit back after the break and equalised with 20 minutes remaining. Ross Barkley’s free-kick was deflected to Bidwell, who made no mistake with the finish.

Hallam Hope has three chances to grab the points late on. The Barnsley keeper denied him on one effort and the young striker also fired agonisingly across the face of goal in the dying moments.

Everton are down to third in the Group C table and are now four points behind leaders Manchester United.

Everton 2 - 0 Crewe Alexander

Everton:  Davies, Bidwell, Murphy, Mustafi, Barrow, Donegan, Kinsella, Barkley, Craig, McAleny, Hope.
Subs not used: Forrester, Roberts, Orenuga, Cummins.  Scorers: Donegan 2 .

Everton beat Crewe thanks to two second-half goals from midfielder Tom Donegan.

Everton 1 - 0 Newcastle United

Everton:  Davies, Bidwell, Murphy, Barnett, Barrow, Donegan, Kinsella, Barkley, Craig, Forrester (Dobie 80), Hope (Thompson 75).
Subs not used: Roberts, Orenuga, Cummins.  Scorers: Bidwell.

Against Newcastle, Everton deserved their victory, with Jake Bidwell scoring what turned out to be the winner on the hour, firing home after a good run into the box.

Everton have four games left and are four points behind leaders Manchester United, who they face next month in what looks like a potential title decider.

 Stoke City 2 - 1 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Barrow, Murphy, Barnett, Bidwell, Kinsella (85' Dobie), Barkley, Craig (80' Orenuga), Codling, McAleny, Hope (65' Forrester).
Subs not used: Roberts, Cummins.  Scorers: Codling.

Everton thought their title chances were all but over as they suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Stoke City.

Stoke took the lead after 25 minutes. But Everton dominated for much of the match, and got a deserved equaliser when the impressive Conor McAleny set up Lewis Codling to head home.

Everton were caught on the break late on. Femi Orenuga brought down a Stoke attacker in the box and the home side sealed the point from the resulting penalty.

 Crewe Alexander 1 - 2 Everton

Everton:  Davies, Barrow, Bidwell, Murphy, Barnett, Barkley, Kinsella, Craig (Thompson 75) , McAleny, Codling (Forrester 70), Hope (Dobie 75).
Subs not used: Roberts, Orenuga.   Scorers: Murphy, Codling.

Everton's youngsters bounced back with a 2-1 win at Crewe thanks to goals from Danny Murphy and Codling.

 Everton 0 - 2 Manchester United

Everton:  Davies, Nsiala, Bidwell, Duffy, Murphy (70 Hope), Kinsella, Barkley (70 Garbutt), Craig (60 Donegan), Forshaw, Baxter, Wallace
Subs not used: N/A.  Scorers: None.

Jose Baxter went close twice early on and centre-back Shane Duffy headed over. United took the lead following hesitancy in the Everton backline. Baxter was denied early in the second by a wonderful save by the United keeper following his superb free-kick.

Everton striker Hallam Hope hit the bar and post as they tried to grab an equaliser, but a counter- attack with three minutes left ended their hopes as United scored a second.

 Manchester City 2 - 5 Everton

Everton:  Team included: Baxter, Duffy, Hope, Orenuga, McAleny, Wallace, Murphy
Subs not used: Names.  Scorers: McAleny 3, Wallace, Murphy.

Their title dream may have ended, but Everton under-18s ended the FA Premier Academy League season in fine style with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Manchester City. A wonderful display at Manchester City included a hat-trick from Conor McAleny and other strikes from James Wallace and Danny Murphy. Everton were 5-0 up and cruising, and Femi Orenuga also missed a penalty. But City scored two late goals from Ahmad Benali following a corner and a Harry Bunn penalty.

 YOUTH ACADEMY U-18s – APPEARANCES, 2009-10

  
Thanks to the Liverpool Echo & Daily Post for publishing regular team line-ups for Everton's Under-18s. 
 

Players from last season: Aristote Nsiala, Tom McCready, Jake Bidwell, Moses Barnett, Lars Stubhaug, Karl Sheppard, Nathan Craig, Hope Akpan, James McCarten, Ross Barkley, Shane Duffy, Gerard Kinsella, Luke Powell, Adam Forshaw, Daniel Redmond, Conor McAleny, George Krenn, Cory Sinott, Adam Davies, Lee McArdle, Jordan Barrow, James Wallace, Eunan O'Kane, Jose Baxter, Connor Roberts, Michael Jensen, Hallum Hope, Tom Donegan, Femi Orenuga, John Nolan, Adam Cummins. [Strikethrough indicates players that had left by the start of the 2009-10 season]

Players Leaving During the Season:

 YOUTH ACADEMY U-18s FRIENDLIES, 2009-10

 Everton 2 - 1 Fulham

Everton:  Davies (14 Roberts); Barrow, Barnett, Nsiala, Hammar; Kinsella, Orenuga, Donegan; Hope (50' Dobie), Sheppard, Forrester (37' Nolan (60+4' Murphy)).
Subs not used: Cummins.  Scorers: Nsiala (8, 32).

A brace from central defender Aristote Nsiala handed Everton victory in the opening match of the Toomey Trophy with a 2-1 win over Premier Academy League rivals Fulham.

Nsiala struck either side of Paudie Quinn's 12th-minute effort to help his team to a deserved success and a place in the final of the competition at 3:30pm on Sunday afternoon.

It had been the Cottagers who had made the brighter start to proceedings as Richard Peniket drilled a low shot into the side-netting in just the second minute. However, with the help of former Southend United youngster Femi Orenuga, Everton soon came into their own, opening the scoring after a prolonged attack in the eighth minute of the match.

Tom Donegan had already delivered one near post corner onto the head of Karl Sheppard, who saw his attempt palmed around the upright by custodian Marcus Bettinelli, when he stepped up to the corner quadrant again. This time his right-footed flag-kick was met by Nsiala, who powered a header past the goalkeeper from close range.

The lead lasted a mere four minutes, with Nsiala involved for the wrong reasons on this occasion. A pumped ball forwards saw indecision between the strong-built centre-half and his 'keeper, Adam Davies. As a result, the loose ball fell to Quinn, who turned home into an unguarded net.

Orenuga set Sheppard through seconds later as the Toffees responded immediately, but the forward could only direct his daisy-cutting shot across the face of goal. At the other end, Davies raced out of his area to attempt a clearance, only to clatter a defender, and found himself replaced by Connor Roberts less than a quarter-of-an-hour into the encounter.

Many of the Liverpudlians' attacks were directed down the right-hand flank, with Orenuga at the heart of many. His centre was glanced wide by Hallam Hope whilst in the 24th minute Sheppard nodded Jordan Barrow's cross over.

After Moses Barnett had curled a free-kick just over, Everton were indebted to Roberts, who made a fine pair of saves to maintain parity. Having managed to parry out Peniket's effort, he was soon drawn into another low save as Courtney Harris darted in from the right-wing.

The Blues were back in front less than two minutes after half-time. Again Donegan was the provider, swinging a cross to the back-post where Nsiala stooped low to direct another header into the net, despite Bettinelli getting a strong hand to the ball.

The shotstopper was called into action to save at the feet of Hope after Orenuga had again supplied a defence-splitting pass, whilst Roberts was equal to Harris' half-volley at the other end.

With a quarter-of-an-hour left, Orenuga's chance to score in the goal that he had eyed as a late substitute in the Shrimpers' FA Cup second round victory over Luton Town last season arrived. Bettinelli denied Hope at the striker's feet, but the ball fell to the midfielder, who sent a lob spinning goalwards, only for his lofted attempt to drift onto the roof of the net.

A frenetic final ten minutes followed as the Londoners sought an equaliser, Roberts called into an excellent save with his feet when Aaron Scott latched onto a Keanu Marsh-Brown through-ball. Even though substitute goalkeeper James Dunn came up for an injury time corner, Fulham were consigned to a place in the third/fourth-place play-off on Sunday morning by a 2-1 defeat.

 Southend United 2 - 2 Everton (2 - 4 on penalties)

Everton: Roberts; Barrow, Nsiala, Hammar, Barnett; Orenuga, Kinsella, Donegan, Forrester (47' Cummins); Hope, Sheppard.
Subs not used: Davies, Murphy, Nolan, Dobie.  Scorers: Sheppard (pen:14', pen:46').
Yellow Cards: Barnett, Donegan, Nsiala

James Stevens and Harry Crawford saw Southend spot-kicks saved by Toffees goalkeeper Connor Roberts in a dramatic finale, with Stevens' own intelligently-taken free-kick representing a particular high point for Southend. The 74th-minute set-piece, securing the draw, was no more than hosts deserved after a fine battling display against Academy opposition.

Everton took the lead after referee Andrew Parker had pointed to the penalty spot in just the 14th minute. Everton forward Karl Sheppard jostled with Duran Reynolds as the pair chased a long ball over the top of the Southend defence. When they reached the penalty area, Reynolds executed the slightest of nudges to push Sheppard to the floor, and the Republic of Ireland Under-18 international dispatched the spot-kick past Daniel Bentley, who had guessed correctly that his opponent would direct his shot towards the bottom left-hand corner.

Sheppard had previously delivered warning that he was a threat when he stumbled onto Anton Forrester's cross to strike past the left-hand upright, and for much of the opening quarter, the visitors appeared the more dangerous.

Their advantage was soon cancelled out, though, in the 23rd minute when a sweeping move finished with Julian Okai firing the ball inside the far post. The diminutive winger had received the ball from Kyle Asante, who in turn had been the recipient of a fine Crawford flick-on to help Southend draw level.

"It was good for me to score," Okai said after the game. "I do get a few goals, and I managed 13 or 14 last season for the Under-16s from left-midfield. I had been talking to Femi Orenuga in the build-up to the match, and I said that I would score first whilst he thought that he would. When I scored, he was unhappy about that."

Everton ended the half strongly, Sheppard lobbing wide of the right-hand post with a speculative effort and Crawford almost nodding past his own goalkeeper from Tom Donegan's centre. From the resultant corner, Donegan teed up Forrester, who saw a vicious attempt palmed away by Bentley.

Early in the second period, Bentley did well to save Hallam Hope's deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area, but there was nothing he could do when the Academy club were awarded another penalty, this time Ade Osifuwa tripping Sheppard as he advanced on goal. The front man drove into the same corner on 46 minutes as Bentley this time went the wrong way.

This sparked an excellent response from the hosts, with Crawford blasting wide when Reynolds' long ball fell into his path. Another raking pass, this time from Jamie Dennis, saw Teddy Nesbitt bundle into Rhys Mackay's path, and the substitute's deflected effort was saved by Roberts.

However, as the crowd still discussed Roberts' point-blank block from a Kyle Asante shot, the Shrimpers equalised again. A free-kick was awarded to Southen and Stevens quickly stepped-up to chip a 30-yard dead-ball over the custodian and into the net.

"I saw the goalkeeper off of his goalline, and I said to the referee, 'When can I take this?' He just told me to take it whenever I want, so I clipped it and then just saw it hit the back of the net,"

There was to be no further goalmouth action and, despite the successful spot-kicks of Dennis, who requested to come back onto the field in injury time, and Reynolds, a 100 per cent record for Everton's penalty-takers saw them ultimately claim the inaugural Toomey Trophy.