Season › 2014-15 › News Under-18s out on penalties at Goodison Park , 21 January, 24comments | Jump to most recent FA Youth Cup 4th Round: Everton 1 - 1 Southampton (aet) Michael Donahue's late goal forced extra time but the Blues were denied in the shootout Everton's U18s are out of the FA Youth Cup at the Fourth Round stage after losing 5-4 on penalties at Goodison Park. The Young Blues were goalless at half time but had carved out almost all the chances and Callum Dyson rattled the woodwork just before the break. They fell behind to Kyle Clinton's goal early in the second half but Michael Donohue fired home a late equaliser after Harry Charsley's shot was parried and that took the tie to extra time and then penalties. Clinton missed first for the visitors but when Jordan Thornily and then Charsley saw their spot kicks saved, Joe Lea won it for the young Saints by converting past Hewelt. Penalty shootout: Ryan Ledson - scored, 1-0 Niall Mason - scored, 1-1 George Newell - scored, 2-1 Marcus Barnes - scored, 2-2 Callum Connolly - scored, 3-2 Kyle Clinton - saved, 3-2 Jordan Thornily - saved, 3-2 Will Wood - scored, 3-3 Jonjoe Kenny - scored, 4-3 Harley Willard - scored, 4-4 Harry Charsley - saved, 4-4 Joe Lea - scored, 4-5 Everton U18s: Hewelt, Kenny, Connolly, Graham, Thorniley (c), Ledson, Donohue, Williams (Newell 80'), Dyson (Brewster 82'), Walsh (Charsley 65'), Dowell. Unused subs: O'Loughlin, Yates. Match Preview Coach Paul Tait had described it as a "sink or swim" moment for some of his players. Southampton's youth academy has become one of the most admired in the country and Tait was under no illusions about how tough a test it would be for his charges. He was hopeful, though, that some of the side's more experienced players like Ryan Ledson could help steady any of his teammates' nerves under the lights. Article continues below video content “The midfield battle is going to be really intriguing,” Tait told the Liverpool Echo. “We know a little bit about them and they have got some really good players in midfield but then, so do we. “But on this occasion, a lot of it will be the mental challenge: playing at Goodison, in such a high-profile game, and so who handles that best will be real important factor. “It is huge for their development (playing at Goodison). Sometimes in these sorts of games it is a sink-or-swim mentality. Some of the boys will freeze on the night and others will take to the challenge really well. “It is up to us to help them boys who can't quite grasp it to start with and the other boys on the pitch who have been in that position before, the likes of your Ryan Ledson and Kieran Dowell who have a little bit of experience of playing at Goodison. They will be helping the boys along as well. “Certainly Ryan because he's the England captain as well. The way he carries himself, he projects a great image. He's smashing lad, he's down to earth and he works really hard and I would say that some of the younger lads look up Ryan, definitely.” Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo Reader Comments (24) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Michael Kenrick 1 Posted 21/01/2015 at 16:49:46 This does sound like a tough game on paper. Does anyone know, for reference, how many of the Southampton sales to Â’biggerÂ’ teams in the last few years have been players who have come all the way through their academy? (As opposed to foreign imports snapped up while they were young?) Lyndon Lloyd 3 Posted 21/01/2015 at 17:22:30 Depends how far you want to go back, really, Michael. It started with Le Tissier and Shearer and continued through Walcott, Bale, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaw and Lallana.Rog Bennett just did a documentary on it and they certainly seem to have their stuff together down there. What struck me particularly was their intent on being patient with some of the smaller players that many other clubs wouldn't touch but who had the potential to develop into more technically gifted individuals.I think we've got the same approach; it's just a shame you have to wait so many years for the process to play out. It's a long-term strategy that needs constant nurturing. Brian Hill 4 Posted 21/01/2015 at 17:24:43 Anyone able to go, please do. These children will show passion that would put the first team to shame. Phill Thompson 5 Posted 21/01/2015 at 19:14:51 It's interesting comparing our development of players with Saints record. But I read recently that Everton and Manure were joint top of the table showing " Number of players coming through development that played 50 PL games ." We both had 13 , but suspect their's was skewed by Class of 92 or whenever it was . Dave Abrahams 6 Posted 21/01/2015 at 21:18:47 Brian Hill, just got home, left at full time,I like going to youth matches,couldn't the thought of watching another thirty minutes of that game.With young lads it's a case of praise loudly criticise softly so I'll say no more except hope they win in extra time. Mark Andersson 8 Posted 21/01/2015 at 23:03:41 Interesting read, how much influence does Martinez have on youth development? As his recent form on the senior team is quite appalling. I really hope that there are some future stars learning their trade at youth level as the current status quo is all a bit doom and gloom.I like that quote "praise loudly, criticise softly". IÂ’m sure Ross Barkley could do with that kind of support. James Flynn 9 Posted 21/01/2015 at 23:35:02 Dave - How did Ledson look? Sam Hoare 10 Posted 22/01/2015 at 07:20:54 Dave, are you sort of saying that they all played pretty poorly? Dave Abrahams 11 Posted 22/01/2015 at 08:50:45 I was as frustrated watching that match as I was on Monday night looking at the first team. I don't blame the lads; it's the coaching – they look and play like robots, every bit of individual play seems to be discouraged. They were in many ways a replica of the first team.You can see good players out there, they just seemed scared to be themselves. Kenny, Donohue and Connolly had good games but I doubt if any of them enjoyed playing.Maybe it's football in general today; it seems to me there is not a lot of fun or enjoyment in either watching or playing a lot of football these days. This game was cheerless and lacking in hardly any entertainment, for me at least.Maybe it's me and I'm a miserable old man; I really don't think it's that as I love football and I allow young lads lots of leeway and mistakes. Jim Bennings 13 Posted 22/01/2015 at 09:29:07 Seems like heroic failure and hard luck tales run fight throughout the entire club..I wonder how the ladies are doing? Mike Oates 14 Posted 22/01/2015 at 09:33:53 If you go onto Southampton site you get 5 min highlights and all goals/penalties, interviews with manager and player, all free.I can't get any info, video's of our U18s anymore this season on our site, it's as though all forms of communication other than Martinez have been suppressed... pathetic really, but maybe that's just me. Since I live 300 miles away, I've always enjoyed watching any snippets of U18s & U21s but coverage is getting worse. We get more on Community issues now. Mike Oates 15 Posted 22/01/2015 at 09:37:42 Sorry meant to say well done Southampton in getting all media out overnight, we'll get something probably late afternoon or even tomorrow on our site Tom R Owen 16 Posted 22/01/2015 at 09:38:10 Mike 14,It is because we are actually quite good at community issues and not playing football. Jim Bennings 17 Posted 22/01/2015 at 09:56:49 Mike, the official site has always been one day behind on everything.If we ever did win the cup, you'd wait until Monday morning before you heard about it on there. Mike Oates 18 Posted 22/01/2015 at 10:20:21 Anyone know what's happened to Kevin Sheedy, what position he's holding, a Paul Tait now seems to be the U18s coach – see main website. It's been like that this season. John Keating 19 Posted 22/01/2015 at 10:37:52 Reading Paul Taits' - the U18 coach - comments this morning it could have been any one of Martinez' after match interviews this season. " Lions share of possession......" "most passes....." "let down in the final third......" etc etc etc etc.After watching the U21 it seems the phenomenal tactical policy permeates every level of the Club. What has happened to Martinez's mantra of letting young players go out express and enjoy their football? Ian Burns 20 Posted 22/01/2015 at 11:04:38 Sin miedo, my arse – from top to bottom it is con mucho miedo, Ross Barkley being the best example of them all. And I don't put the blame on Ross – I put squarely on the shoulders of RM. Jim Hardin 21 Posted 22/01/2015 at 15:09:46 Surprised no one asked if Mirallas showed up to take one of the kicks. Phill Thompson 22 Posted 22/01/2015 at 22:15:48 The "Where's Kevin Sheedy ?" questions remains unanswered and I see Gary Brabin has been appointed to the U18 s set up presumably because Tait has stepped up. Odd. I've often thought it strange that Dunc and Rhino have been promoted but not Sheedy . John O'Brien 23 Posted 22/01/2015 at 22:27:44 My nephew is in the Academy set up and what they do now with the coaches is to switch them around so that they donÂ’t just coach one age group so at the moment itÂ’s Taity and before that it was Sean Lundon and before that it was Sheedy Sam Hoare 24 Posted 23/01/2015 at 09:16:10 We dominated possession without scoring (till the last minute) and conceeded a penalty. Sounds familiar. James Joseph 25 Posted 23/01/2015 at 10:07:05 No Sam, they scored a soft goal from a corner – even more familiar. Paul Burns 26 Posted 23/01/2015 at 10:14:15 About time the club hired a penalty coach, itÂ’s cost us a fortune over the years losing most of the shoot-outs. How come the RS win all of theirs? Sam Hoare 27 Posted 23/01/2015 at 11:10:59 Yes, James... I meant to type that. Mind in another place! 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