FA Youth Cup, 2009-10

 PAGE CONTENTS

Day Date   Rnd  Ven Opponents                 Res     Scorers         

Tue  8 Dec  3   (a) Middlesbrough            W 1—0    McAleny
Thu 21 Jan  4   (a) Brighton & Hove Albion   W 2—0    Duffy, Forshaw 
Thu  4 Feb  5   (a) Preston North End        W 3-0    Mustafi, Duffy, Barkley
Mon  1 Mar  6   (a) Blackburn Rovers         L 1-2    Duffy (aet)

After their 2-0 victory over Brighon & Hove Albion, Neil Dewsnip’s side are now on their travels for the third successive round, with the much shorter trip to Preston North End in the fifth round next month.

Everton Youth Academy Under-18s are now unbeaten in their past seven matches – a run which stretches back to early October.

Preston, though, hit back and Everton were glad that Neil Dougan’s effort was ruled out for offside, while the Preston forward also headed against the woodwork soon after.

Everton skipper Jose Baxter fired over. But the visitors finally took the lead on the half-hour mark, when Adam Forshaw’s free-kick was headed towards goal by Shane Duffy and German centre-back Shkodran Mustafi fired home.

On 37 minutes Baxter had a free-kick tipped over by Comrie, while at the other end Everton keeper Adam Davies saved from Proctor.

In the second half Everton pressed to seal the tie and with 20 minutes left they grabbed a second from the penalty spot. Hallum Hope got in on the end of a James Wallace through-ball, but was brought down. From the resultant spot-kick Duffy fired home straight down the middle of the goal.

Six minutes later Craig's corner deflected off James Wallace and fell perfectly for midfielder Barkley to slam home Everton’s third into the top corner.

Sam Hart hit Everton’s bar with a free-kick with seven minutes left, but they held on for comfortable victory.

Everton continued to press and got their reward four minutes before half-time. Baxter’s superb free-kick was met by Shane Duffy, who headed home the opening goal and the first Blackburn had conceded in this season’s FA Youth Cup.

Early in the second period Everton almost gave themselves a 2-0 but Nsiala’s header was hacked off the line by a home defender. The play was switching from end to end and Everton keeper Adam Davies and Duffy were able to stop Tom Hitchcock from grabbing an equaliser on the hour.

They held the lead until there was 10 minutes left of normal time. As the game wore on the home side continued to press and they drew level as captain Hanley did the damage. when Grant Hanley scored for the home side – the first goal Everton under-18s had conceded in more than 1,000 minutes of play stretching back to October 10. Everton themselves had also kept three clean sheets en route to the last eight clash.

Both sides had chances to book their place in the semi-finals and two-legged tie with Chelsea, but Rovers substitute Osayaman Osawe scored the crucial strike 12 minutes into extra-time. Everton dominated in the early part of extra-time, but it was Rovers who took the lead 12 minutes in when substitute Osawe coolly slotted home past Davies when one-on-one.

Everton threw on Luke Garbutt and Femi Orenuga replacing Craig and James Wallace, and centre-back Duffy was pushed further forward in a desperate attempt to save the tie. Orenuga set up Duffy, but the Irishman fired wide, while Baxter also went close with a free-kick. But Everton couldn’t manage to grab an equaliser.