EVERTON UNDER-21s, 2014-15

On 3 August 2012, it was formally announced that the Premier Reserve League will cease to exist, to be replaced by a new Professional Development League 1, to be commonly known as the U21 Premier Reserve League. A similar U18 league will also be created, and the system will be mapped across the Football League, additionally creating Professional Development Leagues 2 and 3. Teams are ranked according to the categorising of the club academy (a categorisation that will be re-assessed every three years). Everton are a Categroy A team.

The competition is not optional, and participation from all 20 Premier League clubs is therefore confirmed (although Wigan, QPR and Swansea will initially be in Professional Development League 2, sitting outside of the U21 Premier Reserve League. The new FA Premier Under-21 League format includes 17 Premier League sides and six Championship sides. Participating clubs are split into two  National Divisions, with teams allocated places in Division 1 or 2 based on their performance in the 2013-14 season, as follows:

After a double round-robin group stage, clubs will be promoted and relegated between the three groups for the second half of the season, with the aim of ensuring competitive football and closely-matched games throughout. At the end of the season, a play-off style knock-out competition will take place between the winners of Groups 2 and 3 (Qualification Groups) and the three top teams in the Elite Group to determine the overall winner.

Matches must be played between Friday and Monday, demonstrating increased relevance, and games will be played at lower-league stadia rather than training grounds. In addition, each U21 team must play at least two games at the home stadium of the club, allowing young players to perform in venues and atmospheres to which they must become accustomed.

Discounted tickets will be available for all games to persuade families to watch the teams, hopefully attracting those that could otherwise not afford to visit Old Trafford or the Emirates on a match day. Finally, rules dictate that in the U21 league, three over-age outfield players and one over-age goalkeeper may be used, a stipulation that allows for injured players to make effective returns from a lay-off before first-team action.

2014-15 see the introduction of The Premier League International Cup, with invited European sides competing in a four-group tournament. In addition to Everton, the other English clubs involved in the tournament are West Ham, Chelsea, Fulham, Leicester City, Manchester City, Norwich City, and Sunderland. All eight clubs have Category A youth academies. They are joined by Athletic Bilbao, Benfica, Borussia Monchengladbach, Glasgow Celtic, Schalke 04, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, and Villarreal.

Group-stage matches will be played until 31 January 2014 with clubs playing each team in their group once. All matches, including those between international teams, will be played in England.
Upon completion of the group stages the winners and runners-up from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, all to be played as single-leg ties in England.

Another new competition, the U21 Premier League Cup,is also covered here, while Everton's games in the Liverpool Senior Cup is now included with the Under-18s.  Some of the Under-21s may play in the FA Youth Cup too.

Everton U21s:  Stanek; Jones, Browning, Pennington, Galloway; Williams (66' Dowell), Ledson, Grant, Byrne (72' Green); Long, Hope (82' C Duffus).
Subs not used: Griffiths, McLaughlin.  Scorers: Long, Hope, Browning.

Everton's Under-21s were in action against Leicester City this evening in Southport and held out to win 3-2 going thanks to goals by Chris Long, Hallam Hope and Tyias Browning.

Long also had a penalty saved in the second half in a lively match that the Blues led 2-0 and 3-1 before the Foxes' U21s twice hit back to narrow the deficit through a Ledson own goal and Blythe's strike in the 51st minute.

The match again featured new signing Brendan Galloway who lined up at left back, a departure from his usual berth at centre half, and a slightly eccentric performance from goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek who could only slice Ledson's awkward backpass into his own net before getting into trouble dribbling in his own area and then hacking an opponent down trying to rescue the situation.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Jones, Kenny, Ledson, Pennington, Galloway, Byrne (79' Green), Williams (52' Walsh), Long, Dowell, Hope.   
Subs not used: Stanek, McLaughlin, C Duffus.  Scorers: Galloway.

New Under-21s acquisition Brendan Galloway scored his first goal in Everton colours but it ended up being mere consolation as David Unsworth's side lost 2-1 at Fulham. Goals by Marcelo Trotta and Tu-Na Bangna put the Cottagers' second-string into a 2-0 lead and while Galloway pulled one back with a second-half header and George Green hit the post late, the Blues couldn't salvage a draw.

Everton U21s: Stanek; Jones, Galloway, Ledson (58' Dowell), Pennington; Browning, Grant, Walsh; Kone (80' C Duffus), Williams (46' Byrne), Oviedo. 
Subs not used: Griffiths, Long.  Scorers: None.

Everton's Under-21s lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea this afternoon but the match was positive with regard to returning duo Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo.

Jeremie Boga scored a brace for the visitors but there was good news for Kone and Oviedo who completed 80 and 90 minutes respectively to take another step towards making their returns to first-team action.

Everton U21s:  Griffiths; Jones, Pennington, Galloway, Kenny; Ledson, Williams (75' Charsley), Grant, Byrne (61' Henen); C Duffus (85' Dyson), Long.
Subs not used: Stanek, Davies.  Scorers: Grant, Long 2.

Two goals from Chris Long sealed a handsome away win for Everton's U21 side over Southampton last evening.

The game was level after Seagar had cancelled out Conor Grant's emphatic first-half free kick when Long rattled the post.

The striker did find the net twice after that, though, his second laid on by debutant David Henen, to give David Unsworth's side victory.

Everton U21s: Griffiths; Pennington, Garbutt, Ledson (82' Williams), Browning; Galloway, Kenny, Grant, Henen (66' Byrne); Long, Jones (78' Walsh).
Subs not used: Stanek, McLaughlin.  Scorers: Long, Henen, Penningtion.

Chris Long fired the Blues ahead in the first half with a quite brilliant curling strike from 20 yards before loanee David Henen scored his first goal in Everton Blue, tucking home a rebound.
Matthew Pennington added a late third.

Everton U21s: Stanek, Connolly, Oviedo (60' Charsley), Ledson, Pennington, Galloway, Kenny, Grant, Hope, Long, Henen (46' Williams).
Subs not used: Hewelt, Walsh, Dyson.  Scorers: Hope.

Bryan Oviedo got another chance to build his fitness this evening when he played an hour of Everton's U21s' 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.

The Costa Rican has made two appearances for the senior side this season after recovering from the double leg-break he suffered in January but has not been deemed fit enough to make a full-time return to the first team.

Oviedo was joined in the starting XI by Chris Long, Matthew Pennington and David Henen, the goalscorers against Norwich last time out, but it was recent loan returnee, Hallam Hope, who scored the Blues' consolation goal late on.

Everton U21s: Robles, Jones, Galloway, Browning, Kenny, Ledson, Dowell, Grant (68' Williams), Kone (75' Long), McAleny, Oviedo. 
Subs not used: Griffiths, Walsh, C Duffus.  Scorers: Kone, Oviedo, McAleny.

Getting another run-out for the Blues' second string as he make his patient return from a long injury layoff, Kone put Everton ahead in the first half when he slammed home Gethin Jones's cut-back. Sunderland levelled when Liam Agnew's shot flew over Joel Robles before Oviedo struck a sweet half-volley from the angle to restore Everton's advantage. Carl Lawson turned in a low cross from just six yards out, though, to make it 2-2.

Kone managed 75 minutes before being replaced by Chris Long, good news for the Ivorian who, like Oviedo, is hoping to complete his comeback from serious injury by rejoining the first team full time. Conor McAleny scored a late goal to seal a dramatic 3-2 win for Everton.

Everton U21s:  Hewelt, Jones, Kenny, Browning, Connolly, Ledson, Williams (72' Dowell), Grant, Long, Henen, Duffus (62' Kennedy).
Subs not used: Hunt, Junior, Langton.  Scorers: None.

A Chris Wood goal three minutes from time condemned Everton U21s to defeat after Matt Kennedy had hit the bar with a free kick. The Blues' second string had the better of the game and created the better chances, Courtney Duffus even putting the ball in the net in the first half, only to have it chalked off for offside. But after Kennedy had rattled the woodwork following a foul on David Henen, Wood struck.

Henen came close to a dramatic equaliser in the closing stages when he met Kennedy's cross but Johnny Maddison in the Foxes' goal made an excellent save to deny him.

Everton U21s: Hewelt; Jones, Connolly, Junior, Browning; Kenny, Kennedy, Grant, C. Duffus, McAleny (60' Long)  Henen.
Subs not used: Hunt, Dowell, Ledson, Williams.  Scorers: McAleny, Connolly.

Goals by Conor McAleny and Callum Connolly helped Everton's Under-21s to a 2-0 win over the Hammers in Southport this evening. McAleny, returning to the side after recovering from injury, fired the Blues into the lead early in the second half after Connolly had rattled the crossbar in the first period.

And Connolly wrapped up the points a few minutes later from a Conor Grant corner. Matt Kennedy forced a good save from Spiegel in the West Ham goal and Substitute Chris Long went close as Everton continued to dominate but it finished 2-0.

Everton U21s: Hewelt, Jones, Kenny, Galloway, Connolly, Grant (46' Ledson), Junior (78' Dowell), Williams, Henen, Kennedy (65' Green), C Duffus.
Subs not used: Hunt, Langton.  Scorers: Henen, Williams, Kenny

The Blues were trailing 2-0 thanks to first-half goals by Adam Taggart and Freddy Plumai but went into the break level thanks to a brilliant fightback towards the end of the first period.

David Henen struck a beauty from 20 yards out before Joe Williams equalised with a header on the stroke of half time.

After Courtney Duffus was denied by Magnus Norman and Matthew Kennedy volleyed just wide in the second half, the Londoners looked to be on course for victory when Buomesca Tue Na Bangna netted 13 minutes from time.

David Unsworth's men were unbowed, however, and they snatched a deserved equaliser to make it 3-3 four minutes later when skipper Jonjoe Kenny converted following a free kick.

Everton U21s:  Griffiths, Jones, Kenny, Connolly, Galloway, Ledson, Williams (83' Dyson), Junior, Dowell (66' Walsh), Duffus (75' Charsley), Henen.
Subs not used: Hewelt, Langton.   Scorers: Henen, Kenny, Galloway.

Everton Under-21s beat Southampton 3-1 in Southport thanks to a strong first half hour where they stormed into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals by David Henen, Jonjo Kenny and Brendan Galloway.

The Saints pulled a goal back with 19 minutes to go through Bevis Mugabi. The Blues' second string began the evening in sixth place in the U21s Premier League, four places behind Southampton, but with Roberto Martinez, Graeme Jones and Joe Royle watching on from the stands of the Merseyrail Stadium, Henen fired home early to give the home side the lead.

Kenny doubled the lead with a header in the 14th minute after Everton had seen two more efforts cleared off the line by Southampton before Galloway glanced home Ryan Ledson's cross to make it 3-0 with less than half an hour gone. Courtney Duffus would have a goal ruled out just before half time as well as David Unsworth's side remained in the ascendency.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Jones, Connolly, Kenny, Galloway, Ledson, Osman (70' Walsh), Dowell, Pienaar (70' Green), Henen, Kone (81' Charsley).
Subs not used: Hunt, Langton.  Scorers: None.

Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman and Arouna Kone were all in David Unsworth's starting XI. Both Osman and Pienaar were hoping to take another step on their respective roads to recovery from injury while Kone was presumably in need of minutes to keep himself match sharp having not started for the Blues since New Year's Day. The two midfielders completed 70 minutes before being withdrawn. Kone, meanwhile, was substituted in the 81st minute.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Jones, Connolly (46' Langton), Ledson (46' Dyson), Kenny, Galloway, Lundstram, Junior, Dowell, Donohue (62' Green), Henen.
Subs not used: Hunt, Walsh  Scorers: None.

All the goals were scored before half-time as the Young Blues were punished by a clinical Spurs attack. Everton improved after the break but they had left themselves with much too work to do after a disappointing first-half performance.

Everton U21s: Griffiths; Kenny, Connolly, Junior (83' Donohue), Browning; Galloway, Jones, Walsh; Henen, Ledson, Green (66' Dowell).
Subs not used: Hunt, Langton, Bainbridge.  Scorers: Ledson. 

The first half was a closely contested affair, with Brannagan hitting the bar for the reds and Henen heading straight at he keeper shortly before the break. 0-0 at half time. Russell Griffiths was the busier of the two 'keepers, parrying a shot in the 55th minute and then watching Jack Dunn fire inches wide before a brief flare-up was sparked by Jordan Williams's late tackle on Francisco Junior.

Everton took the lead with 21 minutes to go when Ryan Ledson fired a beauty, first time, into the top corner. But the home side were level just four minutes later when Dan Cleary took advantage of poor defending to head home from close range. As the game entered the last 10 minutes, Ledson's shot was blocked and Dowell forced a save by Vigouroux on the follow-up as the Blues pressed.

And the Liverpool 'keeper had to make an excellent stop to deny Henen from winning it in the dying minutes as the Belgian got in behind the Liverpool defence. It was the home side who won it in the third minute of stoppage time, however, when Harry Wilson broke the Blues' hearts when he fired past Griffiths.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Kenny, Galloway, Walsh (55' Dowell), Distin, Browning, Junior, Ledson, Henen, Green (86' Donohue), Jones.
Subs not used: Hunt, Lundstram, Connolly.  Scorers: Kenny (pen).

After the away side took a two-goal lead before the break, David Unsworth's side totally dominated proceedings in the second half, and pulled one back when JonJoe Kenny converted a late penalty but the Blues were otherwise unable to find a way through a stubborn Manchester United defence. The result leaves the young Toffees seven points off the summit of the league table, having played a game less than current pace-setters Manchester United.

The visitors rarely threatened in the second half, with goalkeeper Griffiths not called upon to make any notable saves and the Blues did manage to break through with five minutes remaining. Andy Kellett was adjudged to have handled in the area, and skipper JonJoe Kenny sent Lindegaard the wrong way from the spot to give the Blues a consolation goal.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Connolly (89' Walsh), Robinson, Ledson, Browning, Galloway, Kenny, Davies, Dyson (83' Charsley), Dowell (65' Donohue), Henen.
Subs not used: Hunt, Langton.  Scorers: Henen.

David Henen opened the scoring shortly before the break but this was cancelled out immediately by Jorge Intima. And the Young Blues' first domestic action in over a month ended in disappointment following George Glendon's winner for the visitors just three minutes from the end.

The result leaves Everton occupying 11th place in the table, though David Unsworth's side have games in hand over most teams in the league.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Kenny, Robinson, Browning, Galloway, Ledson (46' Dyson), Dowell (60' Charsley), Walsh, Davies, Connolly, Henen.
Subs not used: Hunt, Langton, Byrne.  Scorers: Browning.

The hosts took an early lead when Carlton Morris's deflected shot found the bottom corner with 10 minutes gone. Morris almost doubled Norwich's advantage shortly before half time but Russell Griffiths denied him with a save and Liam Walsh stopped the follow-up on the goal line to keep it 1-0 going into half time.

Elliott Bennett hammered a shot off the post just before the hour mark before Calum Dyson fired wide and David Henen forced a save from Matthews as the Blues searched for an equaliser. They made the breakthrough 12 minutes from time when Walsh's corner found the head of Tyias Browning and he scored. Henen sliced a late shot wide as Everton tried to find a winner but it ended all square.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Jones, Browning, Galloway, Robinson, Walsh, Kenny, Davies (68' Byrne), Henen, Dyson (83' Dowell), Connolly (55' Charsley).
Subs not used: Hunt, Ledson.   Scorers: None.

David Unsworth's side were trailing 1-0 to Jordan Houghton's first-half goal heading into the closing stages when substitute Tammy Abraham scored twice in the last eight minutes to wrap up the win for the Londoners.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Jones (62' Davies), Galloway, Ledson (75' Connolly), Distin, Browning, Kenny, Williams, Byrne, Charsley, Henen (46' Dyson).
Subs not used: Hunt, Robinson.   Scorers: Charsley.

Harry Charsley had put the Blues ahead with a close-range finish from Ryan Ledson's 24th-minute cross but Ryan Kent equalised just three minutes later. Kent restored the reds' lead in the second half and Ojo made sure of the points for Liverpool from the penalty spot.

On-loan striker David Henen had to be withdrawn at half time with an ankle injury and left the stadium in a protective boot but manager David Unsworth said after the match that he hoped the Belgian would be able to play in one or both of the U21s' games against Sunderland and West Ham next week.

Henen has effectively been on a season-long trial with Everton's second string and the club will have to make a decision over whether to buy him on a permanent basis from Olympiacos this summer.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Kenny, Robinson, Ledson, Browning, Galloway, Jones, Williams, Dyson, Charsley, Byrne (38' Green).
Subs not used: Hunt, Connolly, Langton, Bainbridge.  Scorers: None.

Playing without the injured David Henen, the Blues had a penalty appeal for handball waved away in the first half but fell behind with 63 minutes gone.

Substitute George Green went close and then fired a free kick into the wall as Everton tried to draw level but they couldn't make the breakthrough.

The defeat means that David Unsworth's side have two games, against West Ham and Tottenham, in which to accumulate enough points to move back above Fulham and avoid relegation from the U21s Premier League.

Everton U21s: Hewelt, Kenny (c), Robinson, Ledson, Browning, Galloway, Williams (91' Langton), Connolly, Long (70' Bainbridge), Dowell (70' Dyson), Charsley.
Subs not used: Hunt, Green.  Scorers: Long, Dowell.

Chris Long, recalled from his loan spell with Brentford to help the cause, opened the scoring in the first half before Kieran Dowell's deflected free kick early in the second half doubled the advantage.

Djair Parfitt-Williams pulled a goal back for the home side mid-way through the second period but the Blues held on.

David Unsworth's side needed to win and hope that Fulham didn't beat Spurs to ensure they stayed in the U21s Premier League.

Everton U21s: Hewelt, Kenny (81' Charsley), Robinson, Browning, Connolly, Jones, Ledson (63' Walsh), Williams, Byrne, Long, Dowell (67' Evans) .
Subs not used: Hunt, Langton.  Scorers: Long, Byrne, Kenny.

Chris Long opened the scoring for David Unsworth's side after 12 minutes when he converted from Sam Byrne's pass. The former Manchester United academy striker then turned scorer to double the lead with 26 minutes gone as he was released by an excellent Ryan Ledson ball.

Jonjoe Kenny then made it three just before half time from another Ledson pass. Ward pulled back a late consolation for the visitors as reward for their pressure in the second half.

Everton U21s: Griffiths; Jones, Kenny (c), Pennington, Galloway; Walsh, Williams, McAleny (46' Henen); Long (65' Duffus), Grant, Kone (46' Dowell).
Subs not used: Hewelt, Connolly.  Scorers: Duffus.

Everton's Academy began their participation in the new U21s Premier League International Cup tournament with a 1-1 draw with Celtic this evening thanks to Courtney Duffus's late equaliser. Arouna Kone played the first 45 minutes for the Blues but they fell behind to Filip Twardzik's goal after 27 minutes.

Everton pressed for an equaliser in the second half, with Duffus and Conor McAleny returning to action after a loan spell and injury respectively and it was the former who converted Gethin Jones's cross with 10 minutes to go.

Everton U21s: Hewelt, Connolly (72' Charsley), Galloway, Distin, Kenny, Jones, Ledson (76' Walsh), Junior, Dowell (60' Green), Duffus, Henen.
Subs not used: Hunt,  Langton, Dyson, Davies.  Scorer: Henen.

While the senior side played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Everton Under-21s faced Villarreal in their second Premier League International Cup match at Goodison Park but went down 2-1. Sylvain Distin was named in the line-up after not travelling with the first-team to London.

Everton fell behind very early, with Alfonso Pedraza scoring in only the 3rd minute but David Henen levelled things up with a header in the second half. Francisco Sol restored the visitors' lead, though with 20 minutes to go and that's the way it remained.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Browning, Galloway, Distin, Jones, Kenny, Junior, Lundstram (46' Ledson), Osman, Green (71' Connolly), Henen (82' Donohue).
Subs not used: Hunt, Dowell, Walsh, Langton.  Scorers: Distin.

Sylvain Distin scored the only goal late in the first half to send the Blues through as runners up in their group.  Leon Osman and Distin were the two most senior players in a line-up that included Tyias Browning, John Lundstram, George Green and David Henen.

The Blues needed a win this evening to stay in the competition. It was 0-0 with 33 minutes gone, Henen going the closest to opening the scoring but he fired inches wide, before Distin broke the deadlock with a header from a free kick six minutes before half time.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Kenny, Robinson, Browning, Galloway, Ledson, Walsh, Dowell, Davies (66' Connolly), Henen (83' Charsley), Long (62' Dyson).
Subs not used: Hunt, Donohue, Langton, Byrne.  Scorers: Long, Charsley.

Chris Long put the Blues ahead in just the 10th minute with his first goal since returning from a loan spell at Brentford but the hosts drew level 11 minutes later through Panayiotou.

Everton lost both Long and his strike parter David Henen to injury but almost won it in regulation time when Liam Walsh hit the bar with a free kick and saw another direct set-piece effort tipped over the bar in the closing stages.

Leicester turned the tie on its head in extra time when Panayiotou grabbed his second four minutes into extra time but Henen's replacement, Harry Charsley, equalised a few minutes later.

There were no further goals so the game moved to penalties where Ledson, Dowell and Walsh scored as Everton were handed an advantage when goalkeeper Russell Griffiths saved at 3-2 but successive misses by skipper Jonjoe Kenny and Tyias Browning allowed Leicester to win it with the final spot-kick.

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Jones, Kenny, Ledson, Browning, Galloway, Williams, Grant (59' C Duffus), Long, McAleny, Dowell (71' Connolly).
Subs not used: Hewelt, Walsh, Henen.  Scorers: None.

Everton Under-21s were knocked out of the Under-21 Premier League Cup after a 2-0 away defeat to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

David Unsworth's side started confidently and created an opening within the first minute as Kieran Dowell was released down the left. The midfielder did well to beat his man before crossing for Conor McAleny, who could only divert his effort narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area. McAleny then turned provider, bursting down the left himself before seeing his cross intercepted at the vital moment with Chris Long ready to pounce.

The strike duo were in the thick of the action again moments before half-time. McAleny's toe-poked effort was well saved at full-stretch by Lloyd Allinson and the rebound fell to the feet of Long, who, after taking a touch to set himself, fired over the crossbar. But it was the hosts who broke the deadlock soon after the interval as captain Boyle's inswinging free-kick from the right evaded everybody and nestled into the bottom corner. Everton looked for an instance response and it nearly came as Huddersfield’s defence failed to deal with Gethin Jones's cross. McAleny reacted quickest but his close-range shot struck Joe Wilkinson and the danger was eventually cleared.

The young Terriers notched a second from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining when Tyias Browning was adjudged to have fouled Sondre Tronstad inside the area. Holmes stepped up from 12-yards to fire low and hard into the bottom left corner to send the visiting Blues out.   

  Players from this season who had moved on by the end of 2014-15 include:

• Curtis Langton	Chris Long	Hallum Hope
  George Green	Matthew Kennedy	John Lundstram
  Ben McLaughlin	Shane Duffy