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U23s edge top-of-the-table clash

Sunday, 16 December, 2018 9comments  |  Jump to most recent

After dropping 5 of the last 6 points through a defeat to Liverpool and a draw at Spurs, Everton took advantage of a unique chance to regain top spot in Premier League 2 when they narrowly beat Derby County in the last game of 2018.

The Rams had nosed ahead at the top of the PL2 table, but came to Finch Farm on Sunday, only to lose that advantage when David Unsworth's youngsters signed off for their mid-winter break with an important 1-0 win.

Harry Charsley's 73rd-minute strike settled a fiercely-contested clash at USM Finch Farm. The result means Everton leapfrog the Rams, with the young Blues now two points clear of Craig Short's men.

Tyias Browning had the game's first half-chance on three minutes — his glancing header from Antony Evans's whipped corner delivery went just over the bar. Dennis Adeniran, whose relentless energy and dynamism in the tackle caught the eye throughout, was the next man to have a clear sight at goal.

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The move started was started by skipper Morgan Feeney, who unleashed a fabulous 50-yard raking ball into the path of Ellis Simms. The striker controlled before laying the ball off to Adeniran — but the midfielder could not get over his volleyed effort and it cleared the crossbar.

As the clock ticked past the half-hour mark, the young Blues were looking the more likely side — and they fashioned the best chance of the opening period on 36 minutes. A brilliantly-inventive first-time through ball by Evans sent Simms scampering in on goal down the left channel. The 17-year-old checked inside and looked to score inside his near post, but the Derby stopper got down well to palm the shot away.

Derby came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and it needed a superb block by Con Ouzounidis to thwart an attempt on goal. Unsworth made a double substitution on the hour mark, with Josh Bowler and Bassala Sambou replacing Ouzounidis and Simms.

Bowler almost made an instant impact, skinning the Derby left-back before getting a shot away from a tight angle — the keeper making a fine one-handed stop, however.

The Blues would make a deserved breakthrough on 73 minutes, however. Browning — who had stayed in an advanced position following an Everton corner — controlled a lofted through ball from Ryan Astley before expertly pulling the ball back for Charsley, who rifled home from just inside the area.

Charsley almost had a second 7 minutes later when his swerving effort whistled past the post, before Derby exerted some pressure in the final minutes, coming close with two good chances.

The Blues held firm to secure a vital three points.

Everton U23s: Hewelt; Adeniran, Astley, Broadhead, Browning, Charsley, Evans (87' Iversen), Feeney, Markelo, Ouzounidis (61' Bowler), Simms (61' Sambou).
Subs not Used: Hilton, Gordon.

 

Reader Comments (9)

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Geoff Trenner
1 Posted 16/12/2018 at 15:08:49
The boys are back on top of the table following a 1-0 win

The ladies also won, beating the RS 3-1

John Kavanagh
2 Posted 16/12/2018 at 20:05:11
Thanks for the detailed report. It is always good to read about how well our academy youngsters are performing, even though most of them will never quite make the grade and win first-team appearances.

And then, even if they do, they will have the joy of reading the many posts on ToffeeWeb deriding them as not good enough, destined to become impact subs only, Championship or League Two at best, etc, etc — on the basis of a 5- or 10-minute appearance, often less. Recent targets: Davies, Kenny, Dowell, Holgate, Lookman and Calvert-Lewin, for example.

If only they could just finish like a £45 million Brazilian, score penalties with the aplomb of a £45 million Icelandic World Cup star, or prevent 7-foot tall monsters like Raheem Stirling from scoring headers, eh.

I say keep on trying 100%, lads. Prove all the naysayers wrong and continue winning titles and international trophies at youth level. You never know — you could end up being the Blue who lifts a trophy after beating the RS in a cup final.

Mark Andersson
3 Posted 17/12/2018 at 07:40:12
John, I love it... so true.
Kevin Prytherch
4 Posted 17/12/2018 at 08:31:01
This is a credit to Unsworth as well.

When we won the U23 Premier League a few seasons ago, we had Robinson, Holgate, Kenny, Pennington, Baningime, Davies, Dowell and Calvert-Lewin playing at some point. Every one of them has proven to be a good Championship player at the very least.

Unsworth rightly got accolades but, in all fairness, we should have won the league with the talent we had.

This time around, I don't think we have half the individual quality but Unsworth has got a team working together.

Kevin Prytherch
5 Posted 17/12/2018 at 08:32:34
I didn't even mention Joe Williams or Connolly in the above post.

We had 10 players who are Championship level at least.

Dave Abrahams
6 Posted 17/12/2018 at 09:33:05
John (2), very good post, but it is worth mentioning that besides the over-the-top criticism, some posters give encouragement and back the players but also offer constructive criticism where they think it is necessary.
Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
7 Posted 17/12/2018 at 11:17:20
After our performance this weekend, there are a lot on here who think we have at least 10 players who are Championship level at best. I think Jordan Pickford is probably the one excluded.

I do suspect there are supporters of at least 10 teams in the Premier League who would take all 11 who played on Saturday into their club without a moment's hesitation.

John Dean
8 Posted 17/12/2018 at 12:45:10
5 minutes of balanced highlights of this game are already available on Derby's website. I wonder how long (Wednesday?) before Everton puts up our 30 seconds' worth?

Ellis Simms has started the last two games ahead of Bassala Sambou and our full international, Shayne Lavery can't buy a start and hardly any bench appearances. Sightings of Matty Foulds are also rare since he signed a new one-year deal. These lads may all be injured and unavailable. Are other clubs so secretive of their U23 players?

Phil Smith
9 Posted 18/12/2018 at 23:46:54
Josh Bowler looked very bright after he came on. Wonder why he didn't start.

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