FA Youth Cup, 2010-11

 PAGE CONTENTS

Day Date   Rnd  Ven Opponents                 Res     Scorers         

Wed 12 Jan  3   (h) Wolverhampton Wanderers  W 2—1    Hope, Ihiekwe (og)
Mon 24 Jan  4   (a) Middlesbrough            L 0-1    — 

It wasn’t the Under-18s' most polished performance of the season but it was good enough to book a fourth round tie at Middlesbrough, who won 4-2 against Doncaster Rovers after extra-time at the Keepmoat Stadium last night.

The first-half was goalless but Hallam Hope gave Everton the lead before Wolves equalised through Jake Cassidy but Ihiekwe’s strike secured the victory. Jordan Barrow, fresh from his weekend hat-trick in the Academy League against Crewe, was involved in a lot of Everton’s best work on the right of midfield during the first half. He and full-back Tyius Browning combined well but couldn’t fashion out too many clear-cut chances.

Everton had a big let off when Andre Landell’s shot hit the woodwork with keeper Connor Roberts beaten. Ten minutes before half-time Anton Forrester headed just wide from Luke Garbutt’s excellent free-kick. And just after the break Johan Hammar saw his header well saved by Wolves keeper Dan East from Tom Donegan’s delivery.

Soon after Everton finally made the breakthrough.  Captain Jake Bidwell kept the ball alive on the left and from his cross Hope turned and shot low past East.  But seven minutes later the visitors were level. Zeli Ismail’s pass into the area finally landed at Cassidy’s feet and he coolly finished past Roberts.

Everton didn’t let their heads drop and kept pressing for a winner and it came 15 minutes before the end. Hope’s initial cross was cleared but Barrow fired the ball back in and the unfortunate Ihiekwe headed into his own net to put Everton into the fourth round.

A powerful first-half header by Charlie Wyke earned Boro's youth side a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Everton in the FA Youth Cup. The striker climbed high above the Everton defence to bullet home a cross from the right after 20 minutes of a first half that the Boro kids dominated at the Riverside Stadium. But in the second half it was backs to the wall as Everton piled forward and Boro were forced to defend in depth.

Everton arrived unbeaten in eight games in all competitions and top of their league. And Everton beat Boro 1-0 at Billingham Synthonia’s ground at the same stage last year. But Boro set the pace in the first half with some slick passing moves and inventive play going forward.

But the second half was a different story. Everton attacked from the off and Boro keeper who had barely made a save in the first half was suddenly the busiest man on the pitch. He dived to push a Luke Garbutt effort behind early in the half then after a string of routine stops he pulled off a fantastic double block on 69 minutes, first going full length to block a stinging 15 yard low drive by Craig Forrester then scrambling across to save again from close range as Hallum Hope pounced on the rebound.

Everton also had a Hope header ruled out for offside and Forrester fired into the side netting but Boro weathered the storm and gradually clawed back into the game — although there was a scare as a stoppage time free-kick curled just outside the far post.