7-3 goalfest for the U18s

Cannon (2) Dobbin with two apparent wondergoals, Quirk,Onyango and Hughes completed the rout.

Bobby Carrol came on at half time following an injury. Dobbin is only seventeen, can't sign a contract yet although Everton arevery keen to get his name on the dotted line.

The teams great performance was watched by Marcel Brands, and was a very young team with a couple of schoolboys, possibly a young team because of the transfer ban on young players coming in from other teams. This information is courtesy of another website,

Dave, I presume it was in Southport, did you go? What has happened with Ellis Simms? Is he injured?

Derek, Simms is now too old but came off the bench last night for the U23s against Arsenal at The Emirates.

It is indeed a young side and great to see that, and while I can't say I know all of them individually, the majority of these kids have been with us for years playing together in tournaments etc coming through together. Dobbin will rightly get lots of headlines this season, but Onyango won't be far behind him, he fits in very well in midfield with the two older players Rhys Hughes and Seb Quirk.

Thanks, Phill, didn't realise Ellis had moved up to the U23s. It is always encouraging when you hear of the youngsters doing well, but as we all know, so few ever get to the top; having said that, many can be late developers.

It sometimes makes you wonder, when we buy expensive players, on mind-boggling wages, and they turn in a display like that yesterday, the kids given half a chance couldn't do any worse!

Derek (2), no I never went. I always go if these games are at Goodison, but not many are, it's nice to keep track of the young lads coming through.

Derek, I'm cautious about pitching in our kids in too early, particularly if others around them are not playing well, but at times I get more enjoyment in watching streams or clips ofU18 or U23 than I do the first team! So I just enjoy what I see without any expectations that we've got a world beater on our hands.

Dave & Phill, I always go to Goodison as well, when the kids are playing there, but that is only due to either flooding at the pitch in Southport or a major final or Cup Final.

Even though I live in Chester, I can always get the train to Southport, but always seem to miss the match, must be more vigilant as to the fixtures in the futures.

Derek, that's great that people make an effort to watch our youngsters. The biggest disappointment for me is the lack of effort our club makes to stream these games compared to other clubs. I've got an Everton Membership which supposedly includes streams of U23s and u18 games, so far we've not streamed any.

Thankfully I've managed to watch two U23s games this season thanks to the efforts of other clubs, the Leicester Game and the Wolves one. Leicester streamed the match from our home ground, Southport, when we couldn't be bothered. In the past, clubs like Swansea have also streamed our games. I can't believe that these clubs have a bigger following of their U23s than us, or have more money or technology we don't have. It's been a constant disappoint over recent years, we need to do better. Rant over!!

Maybe we should start supporting/following the U18s, at least we'd see goals

Derek, there's a few regular PL2 games scheduled for Goodison Park. Pencil in Monday 16 September at 7 pm for you and your entourage to roll up at the Old Lady and watch the U23s take on Blackburn Rovers.

[All fixtures subject to change, etc.]

You'd think Everton would knock those Monday night games in the head, haven't they heard about mad Monday's, they are still alive and kicking, but not for football.

I think all the under 18 home league games are played at Finch Farm. Only home FA Youth Cup matches are played at Goodison.

I was disappointed to hear during a tour of Finch Farm that the plan, announced a few years back, to build a pitch with spectator facilities at Finch Farm to house the U23 games had died along with Martinez's reign. It was his idea and, it seems, nobody else will champion it. So, Monday nights at a soggy Haig Avenue it is then.

John it's not all soggy Monday nights at Haig Avenue. Some soggy Friday nights as well. My gain.