FA Youth Cup

 PAGE CONTENTS

Day Date   Rnd  Ven Opponents                 Res     Scorers                   

Sat  1 Dec  3   (H) Sunderland                4-1     Simms 2, Adedoyin, Gordon
Thu 10 Jan  4   (A) Stoke City                2-2     Simms, Hunt  [3-1 on Penalties] 
Tue 12 Feb  5   (H) Brighton & Hove Albion    2-0     Collins, Simms
Tue 26 Feb 26   (A) West Bromwhich Albion     3-4     Carroll, Adedoyin, Simms

Everton Under-18s booked safe passage into the 4th round of the FA Youth Cup after a 4-1 win over Sunderland at Goodison Park

 Sunderland were given an early warning about in-form Everton striker Ellis Simms – who netted twice in the young Blues’ 4-0 win over the Black Cats last weekend - inside the first 10 minutes. Found on the edge of the box by Bobby Carroll, the powerful frontman drove forward but saw an effort deflected wide. They did not heed that warning, however. Pawel Zuk picked out Mackenzie Hunt and when he laid it off for Simms, the frontman powered the ball into the roof of the net.

The chances continued to fall Everton’s way, Korede Adedoyin and skipper Einar Iversen both saw half chances fly off target. The Toffees’ pressure told just before the break. A corner picked out Adedoyin and he did the rest, steering a header into the back of the net.

A fine move developed seconds after the restart. Anthony Gordon tricked his way into space and played the ball inside for Simms, his flick was perfect for Adedoyin but the winger’s effort flew high and wide. Sunderland had clearly been read the riot act at the interval, and Gooch capitalised on lackadaisical Everton defending to fire past Harry Tryer.

 The goal of the match sealed it when Gordon was picked out wide on the left by Simms, Gordon bent a stunning strike that dipped into the far corner of the Sunderland net. Suddenly the nervousness that had creept into Everton’s game was gone.

Iversen almost added a brilliant fourth of his own, lashing a half-volley that clipped the bar on its way over. Simms, though, did wrap up the victory with a late fourth, breaking free to fire low into the net to secure Everton’s place in the next round.

Everton U18s: Tyrer, Zuk, Warren, Astley, Joe Anderson, Iversen, Adedoyin (77' Hughes), Carroll (90' Quirk), Simms, Hunt, Gordon (85' Dobbin).
Subs not Used: Hansen, Warnock.

The Young Blues prevailed in an exciting encounter at Stoke City after the game ended 2-2 after extra-time.

Goal machine, Ellis Simms, led the line for Everton and he fired home the opener from Anthony Gordon's cross inside three minutes.

Mackenzie Hunt then doubled the lead for the visitors with a cracking effort from the edge of the box that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

However, as Stoke pushed in the second half, Ethon Varian halved their deficit with 19 minutes of the regulation 90 to go and he levelled matters at the death to force extra time, with Everton picking up an incredible eight yellow cards!

Three fantastic saved penalties by Harry Tyrer in the shootout ensured that Everton progressed to the 5th Round, with Hughes, Hunt and Astley converting their spot-kicks.

Everton U18s: Tyrer, Zuk [Y:60'], Warren, Joe Anderson [Y:103'], Astley, Iversen [Y:58'] (104' Quirk [Y:107']), Adedoyin (81' McKeown), Carroll (45' Hughes [Y:75']), Simms [Y:90'], Hunt [Y:88'], Gordon [Y:45'] (100' Dobbin).
Subs not Used: Barrett.

Based on the latest showings at Under-18 level, it looked like a strong line-up announced by Paul Tait. And they quickly surged into an impressive 2-goal lead after just 12 minutes with excellent goals for Michael Collins and Ellis Simms.

More chances were created and could have been taken but the boys on blue looked to relax a little, letting Brighton come into it more but without threatening Harry Tryer in the Everton goal.

The Blues defended well without really stepping it up in the second half, and will now face West Brom in the 6th Round.

Everton U-18s: Tryer, Richards, Collins (90' Warren), Joe Anderson, Astley, Iversen, Adedoyin (70' Quirk), Carroll, Simms, Hunt, Gordon [Y:40'] (50' Hughes).
Subs not Used: Barrett, Dobbin.

Everton U18s crashed out at The Hawthorns after having taken a 2-goal lead over West Bromwich Albion in the quarterfinals of the FA Youth Cup.

There was an early goal for Everton after just 7 minutes: Bobby Carroll fired the away side in front. Everton doubled their lead after 20 mins when Korede Adedoyin's shot was deflected past Josh Griffiths and into the far corner. The home side pulled one back before the break.

West Brom continued their recovery, scoring an equalizer soon after the break. But there was an instant response from Everton as Ellis Simms rifled home a loose ball to put Everton back in front.

However, the Brummies really dug in and they were finally rewarded with not one but two goals in the space of three minutes. And things got worse for Everton when they had a man sent off as frustrations get the better of them: Mackenzie Hunt was dismissed for a bad tackle.

And so the young Blues, who had been having one of their better seasons, couldn't sustain a faltering campaign, making it 7 defeats in the last 9 games that have seen them drop out of four different cup competitions.

Everton U18s: Tyrer, Richards (86' Quirk), Collins, Joe Anderson, Astley, Iversen, Adedoyin (84' Dobbin), Carroll (90' Hughes), Simms, Hunt [R], Gordon.
Subs not Used: Barrett, Warren.