Lineups, scores and brief match details for Everton Academy Under-18s side from Finch Farm.
[FA Youth Cup, 2021-22]
Everton Under-18s started the 2021-22 season with a fresh young tranche of new Academy Scholars for their games in the U-18 Premier League, the U18 Premier League Cup, and the FA Youth Cup but registered a relatively unsuccessful campaign.
The U18 Premier League replaced the Premier Academy League at the start of the 2012-13 season with the aim to enhance youth development and help transition players between the Academy and First Team. The 2021-22 Under-18 Premier League is the seventh campaign of the top tier of the Under-18 Development League. This season, the league has been expanded to 28 Category 1 Development teams, split regionally into north and south groups. Teams face their regional opponents both home and away before the top team in each group face face each other to determine the national champion. Manchester City are the defending Champions from 2020-21, beating Fulham 3-1 in the final.
Age requirement: Clubs are not allowed to field any outfield players outside of the U18 age category. However, the goalkeeper is permitted to come from the U19 age category.
The 14 clubs in the North Group of the 2021-22 U18 Premier League are:
Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion & Wolverhampton Wanderers
The 14 clubs in the South Group of the 2021-22 U18 Premier League are:
Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Fulham, Leicester City, Norwich City, Reading, Southampton, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur & West Ham United.
The section below contains team details, scorers, and brief match reports for Everton Under-18 matches during the 2021-22 Season.
U18 Premier League North, Game #1 Saturday 14 August 2021 Thorp Arch Grange, Leeds
It was a pretty competitive game but Everton edged ahead just before half-time through Isaac Heath, with a fine right-footed shot into the centre of the goal. Leeds had perhaps held the upper hand but The Blues had got off a few decent shots through Heath, Manafa and Sherif before the breakthrough came.
The home side came back after the break and would go ahead later in the half, despite plenty of shots made by the Everton players.
Everton U18s: Stewart, Campbell, Metcalfe, Mallon [Y:19'], Samuels-Smith [Y:74'] (90+2' Jones), Jagne, Wilson, Manafa (69' Ebere), Barker (45' Apter), Heath, Sherif. Subs not Used: Graham, Coughlan.
U18 Premier League North, Game #2 Saturday 21 August 2021 USM Finch Farm
Much of the early play saw each side trying to establish control, with the visitors doing better in terms of possession and providing some good tests for the Everton defence, where Mathew Mallon excelled. He even got forward to cross well, winning Everton's first corner.
City went ahead from the penalty spot just before the half-hour after Campbell had brought a player down on the right side of the penalty area. And that's how the score stayed through half-time.
Everton made a couple of changes just after the hour mark and were able to draw level against the run of play on 77 minutes when great work by Issac Hatch saw Coughlan feed a nice through ball that Martin Sherif converted.
Everton came very close to winning it after Sherif fought hard to win a long clearance and it looked like the ball was bobbling into the goal when it was cleared off the line by a City defender.
City won a dangerous free-kick in the last minute, but it was easy pickings for Jak Stewart in the Everton goal, and a good result against the U18 Champions.
Everton U18s: Stewart, Campbell, Mallon [Y:91'], Tierney, Metcalfe, Wilson, Jagne (61' Coughlan), Apter (62' Ebere (79' Smikle-James)), Heath, Manafa, Sherif. Subs not Used: Jensen, Opawole
U18 Premier League North, Game #3 Saturday 28 August 2021 Rockliffe Park, Middlesbrough
The Blues got off to a terrible start, giving up a goal in the first minute. They responded well through youngster Halid Djankpata just a couple of minutes later but gave up two more goals before the half-hour mark, and went 4-1 behind by half-time.
There were no more goals in the second half but the damager was done early on in this one, giving the young Blues no chance to recover.
Everton U18s: Stewart, Mallon, Wilson, Tierney, Jones (64' Coughlan), Jagne, Melcalfe, Heath, Apter (90' Smikle-James), Djankpata, Sherif. Subs not Used: Graham, Butler, Beaumont-Clark.
U18 Premier League North, Game #4 Saturday 11 September 2021 USM Finch Farm
Everton U18s secured a good win over Sunderland in their 4th match of the new season.
At half-time, Everton led 1-0 on a goal from Jack Tierney off a corner after just 5 minutes. Schoolboy Halid Djankpata had to come off after less than 25 minutes.
There were no more goals until right at the death, when the highly-rated youngster Emilio Lawrence made it 2-0 for the young Blues, their first win of the season.
Everton U18s: Stewart, Tierney, Wright, Samuels-Smith, Mallon, Djankpata (23' Coughlan), Heath, Metcalfe, Sherif (72' Jagne), Baker, Lawrence. Subs not Used: Graham, Jones, Apter.
U18 Premier League North, Game #5 Saturday 25 September 2021 USM Finch Farm
Right-back Mathew Mallon gave Everton an 11th-minute lead after good work from striker Katia Kouyate in the box, squaring for the defender to tap home from close range.
The young Blues could not prevent Wolves from equalizing on 24 minutes, however. Isaac Heath’s second-half strike secured victory to make it back-to-back Premier League North wins for Everton Under-18s.
Everton U18s: Stewart, Mallon, Samuels-Smith (86' Jones), Tierney, Campbell, Metcalfe, Barker, Jagne, Kouyate (60' Djankpata), Lawrence, Heath.Subs not Used: Graham, Apter, Sherif.
U18 Premier League North, Game #6 Saturday 2 October 2021 Barnfield Training Centre, Burnley
Burnley went ahead from the penalty spot after Leban brought a man down. But Jenson Metcalfe restored parity with a lovely curling shot just after the half-hour mark.
However, in the second half, Martin Sherif was on target again for the young Blues to exact sweet revenge for that cup defeat earlier this season.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon, Wright, Jones [Y:59'], Tierney, Metcalfe, Barker, Apter (79' Djankpata), Sherif [Y:71'], Lawrence, Heath. Subs not Used: Graham, Coughlan, Smikle-James, Trialist.
U18 Premier League North, Game #7 Saturday 23 October 2021 USM Finch Farm
Halid Djankpata got Everton off to a great start with a goal after just 8 minutes. But the visitors giot a goal back in the second half and that's how it finished.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon, Wright, Jones, Tierney, Butterfield, Heath, Metcalfe, Djankpata, Coughlan (79' Smikle-James), Barker. Subs not Used: Stewart, Wilson.
U18 Premier League North, Game #8 Saturday 30 October 2021 Liverpool Academy, Halewood
The young Blues were soundly defeated by Liverpool in their 8th game of the season.
The home side pushed hard and played a high line in the early stages but the Everton defence were well structured, repelling a succession of Liverpool attacks. But they finally conceded after 20 minutes.
Halid Djankpata made a good run and came very close to scoring for Everton with his shot minutes later. But Liverpool hit the bar then somehow missed an open goal. A very rash tackle by Tierney saw him booked as the Liverpool player needed treatment.
Zan-Luk Leban, who had made a number of good saves off Liverpool players, had to produce one of his best moments to palm away a very awkward goalbound backpass from Ed Jones just before the ref blew for half-time.
The one-way traffic continued into the second half, with Jack Butler on for Harry Wright, Leban forced into another great save and a shot deflecting just wide before a good pass was used to punish the Everton defence and make it 2-0 with 40 minutes left on the clock.
Martin Sherif and Sam Coughlan came on in a double substitution and Sherif used his size well, bashing one shot off the Liverpool crossbar within a few minutes. But Liverpool countered and another fantastic save was needed from Leban.
Liverpool drove forward again and scrambled in a third goal just after the hour-mark, and forced a number of exceptional saves from Leban before they scored again in the last minute for an emphatic 4-0 defeat to the dejected Blues.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon, Wright (46' Butler), Tierney [Y:30'], Jones, Butterfield, Heath, Metcalfe, Lawrence (56' Sherif), Barker (56' Coughlan), Djankpata.Subs not Used: Stewart, Wilson.
U18 Premier League North, Game #9 Saturday 6 November 2021 USM Finch Farm
Everton U18s came back with a fine goal from Jenson Metcalfe after an early set-back had them chasing the game.
The visitors were gifted an early lead after a clearance by Leban was blocked and Blackburn player found the net unguarded in the 8th minute.
Everton battled hard to get back into the game after that early setback and success came finally through a mistake by Blackburn trying to play out from the back and the excellent midfielder, Jenson Metcalfe, powered a wonderful finish over their keeper from a narrow angle to level it in the 73rd minute.
Everton U18s: Leban, Tierney, Mallon (90+9' Coughlan), Jones (72' Wilson), Wright, Butterfield, Metcalfe, Djankpata, Barker (84' Heath), Lawrence (88' Smikle-Jones), Sherif. Subs not Used: Stewart.
U18 Premier League North, Match Abandoned Saturday 20 November 2021 Nottingham Forest Football Academy, West Bridgford
Eli Campbell returned to the U18s after a few games with the U23s. Sam Coughlan made only his second start despite making a number of appearances from the bench, where new goalkeeper signing Patrick Nash was involved for the first time. Roman Quintyne (listed on the official Everton website now as Roman Dixon) figured for the first time after being out for months with an injury.
Everton were unable to score in the first half, which ended 0-0. Then, at some point during the second half, the game was abandoned due to lack of ambulance cover. Jack Butler, one of Everton's U16s playing Forest U16s at the same time, suffered a serious head/neck injury and had to be taken to hospital in the only ambulance that was available.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon, Tierney, Campbell, Wright, Metcalfe, Coughlan, Butterfield, Barker, Lawrence, Sherif. Subs: Nash, Jones, Heath, Manafa, Quintyne.
U18 Premier League North, Game #10 Saturday 4 December 2021 USM Finch Farm
The side had not won any of the last five games, with three draws and one game abandoned. But Francis Okoronkwo, who made his Everton debut last weekend against Arsenal, came on as a sub in the second half and scored his first goal for the Blues.
Emilo Lawrence put Everton ahead in the dying seconds of the first half. And soon after Francis Okoronkwo scored with a header from a corner in the second half, Martin Sherif sealed the fine win the first home win vs Man Utd in 6 years!
A great debut also for goalkeeper Patrick Nash, new signing previously with Reading Academy, who kept a clean sheet.
Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon (81' Quintyne), Tierney, Jones, Samuels-Smith, Metcalfe (81' Manafa), Butterfield, Lawrence, Whitaker (62' Okoronkwo), Heath, Sherif. Subs not Used: Stewart, Wright.
U18 Premier League North, Game #11 Saturday 8 January 2022 USM Finch Farm
Everton U18s were finally back in action today, at home to Stoke City as the U18 Premier League resumed with a 2-2 draw.
Paul Tait's youngsters had not played for 5 weeks when they secured an excellent 3-0 win over Man Utd. Everton U18s sit in 8th place in the U8 Premier League (North), just 4 points behind 2nd.
Francis Okoronkwo put Everton ahead after 20 minutes with only his second goal since joining the club but the visitors levelled matters before the break.
Stoke took the lead in the second half but just 3 minutes later, Everton were awarded a penalty when Coughlan was fouled and Martin Serif made no mistake from the spot to secure the draw.
Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon (68' Quintyne), Jones, Tierney, Samuels-Smith (87' Wright), Jagne [Y:31'], Coughlan (80' Smikle-James), Djankpata [Y:83'], Barker, Heath, Okoronkwo (68' Sherif). Subs not Used: G Pickford.
U18 Premier League North, Game #12 Saturday 22 January 2022 Carrington, Manchester
Everton Under-18s were at Carrington losing to Manchester Utd in a prequel to their upcoming 5th Round FA Youth Cup tie scheduled for Old Trafford next month.
Everton gave up two goals in the first 20 minutes but hit back before the break when Emilio Lawrence scored — a Martin Sherif through ball found Lawrence, who showed fabulous composure to calmly slot the ball low into the corner from just inside the box.
And in the second half, that man Francis Okoronkwo stepped up again to level the match. Nash brilliantly found Okoronkwo with a kick from his hands and the attacker carried the ball from just inside the United half before exquisitely curling the ball into the far corner to restore parity on 50 minutes.
But two more goals from the home side would wrap up the scoring.
Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon, Samuels-Smith, Campbell, Jones, Butterfield, Djankpata (79' Heath), Jagne [Y:61'] (72' Quintyne), Sherif, Lawrence (72' Barker), Okoronkwo. Subs not Used: Graham, Tierney.
U18 Premier League North, Game #13 Saturday 29 January 2022 Derby County Football Academy
Everton U18s lost to a late goal at Derby County.
Everton Under-18s were left to rue missed chances as they fell to a late goal in a 1-0 defeat at Derby County in Premier League (North) on Saturday morning.
The Blues produced a promising performance but were left frustrated as a 79th-minute goal sealed victory for the hosts.
Everton U18s: Nash, Dixon, Samuels-Smith, Campbell, Tierney, Butterfield, Lawrence, Metcalfe (66' Barker), Sherif (66' Jagne), Djankpata (72' Heath), Okoronkwo. Subs not Used: Stewart, Jones.
U18 Premier League North, Game #14 Saturday 12 February 2022 Nottingham Forest Academy
A single goal before half-time saw Everton U18s prevail over Nottingham Forest in their 14th game of the U18 Premier League (North) season.
This was a replay of the game that was abandoned last November. Francis Okoronkwo returns to the U18s after getting his first start for the U23s against Leicester City last week.
Everton went ahead through Halid Djankpata before the break. It was a pretty even contest with Everton's defence holding firm throughout to seal the win,
Everton U18s: Leban, Quintyne, Wright (87' Jagne), Jones (57'Wilson), Tierney, Butterfield, Djankpata [Y:78'], Metcalfe [Y:35'], Sherif [Y:82'], Lawrence, Okoronkwo (70' Heath). Subs not Used: Nash, Barker.
U18 Premier League North, Game #15 Tuesday 15 February 2022 USM Finch Farm
Everton Under-18s moved into 4th place in the U18 Premier League (North) with a win over Derby County at Finch Farm on Tuesday afternoon.
Lawrence had shot wide, while Metcalfe had a shot blocked, before Everton took the lead with 10 minutes gone, via an own-goal, which is how it stayed until well after half-time.
Everton went ahead through substitute Issac Heath on 67 minutes with a shot into the bottom corner. Heath had only just replaced Francis Okoronkwo 3 minutes earlier, and the goal secured back-to-back wins for the U18s the first time in 4 months.
Everton U18s: Leban, Quintyne, Wright, Campbell, Wilson, Butterfield, Barker (77' Smikle-James), Metcalfe, Okoronkwo (64' Heath), Djankpata, Lawrence (77' Jagne). Subs not Used: Nash, Tierney.
U18 Premier League North, Game #16 Saturday 26 February 2022 USM Finch Farm
Liverpool U18s ran out 3-1 winners over Everton's youngsters at Finch Farm today.
Liverpool went ahead after just 6 minutes but Everton drew level 5 minutes later through a header from Martin Sherif. But the visitors would go on to score 2 more before the break. And that's how it stayed through the second half.
Everton U18s: Leban, Wright, Samuels-Smith, Wilson, Campbell, Metcalfe, Barker (71' Jagne), Djankpata (82' Smikle-James), Sherif, Lawrence, Heath (88' Coughlan). Subs not Used: Nash, Jones.
U18 Premier League North, Game #17 Saturday 5 March 2022 USM Finch Farm
Everton U18s were stunned by a late salvo from Leeds Utd at Finch Farm.
The visitors took the lead after 21 minutes but Emilio Lawrence had Everton back on terms just 4 minutes later with a nice right-footed shot into the top corner.
The score was 1-1 at the break and it stayed that way until the last 10 minutes when Everton gave up 2 quick goals followed by another right at the end in added time.
Everton U18s: Nash, Quintyne, Wilson, Campbell [Y:29'], Samuels-Smith, Jagne, Metcalfe [Y:83'], Lawrence, Okoronkwo (87' Smikle-James), Heath (71' Barker), Sherif. Subs not Used: Graham, Jones, Wright.
U18 Premier League North, Game #18 Saturday 12 March 2022 City Academy, Manchester
Everton U18s gave up a first-half goal at the City Academy today that was the difference against the league leaders,
Everton are firmly mid-table, sitting in 8th position having had a disappointing season given the potential of the talent to hand. Francis Okoronkwo is only on the bench, his goals having dried up after scoring in 6 of his first 7 league and cup games following his much-heralded move from Sunderland.
The home side took the lead just after the half-hour mark. And that's how it stayed till the end.
Everton U18s: Nash, Wilson, Campbell, Samuels-Smith, Quintyne, Jagne [Y:63'], (66' Okoronkwo), Djankpata (84' Smikle-James), Barker, Heath (77' Apter), Lawrence, Sherif. Subs not Used: Stewart, Wright.
U18 Premier League North, Game #19 Friday 18 March 2022 USM Finch Farm
Everton U18s played out a draw with Middlesbrough at Finch Farm this afternoon after going ahead through Lawrence.
Jenson Metcalfe was missing through injury and it was a very young Everton side with Tim Cahill's son Shae making his first showing at this level, on the bench as an unused substitute.
On 52 minutes, Emilio Lawrence took possession off Isaac Heath and broke through the middle before shifting the ball onto his left foot and unleashing a low drive past the Boro goalkeeper.
Boro were level soon after through a long-distance free-kick that flew past Pat Nash in the Everton goal. And that's how it ended.
Everton U18s: Nash, Quintyne (67' Wright [Y:86']), Samules-Smith, Jones, Wilson, Jagne (67' Apter), Lawrence, Djankpata, Sherif (67' Smikle-James), Heath, Barker. Subs not Used: Graham, Cahill.
U18 Premier League North, Game #20 Saturday 26 March 2022 Newcastle Utd Football Academy, Newcastle
Everton U18s travelled to the north-east without a number of regulars and were held to a goalless draw after losing Ed Jones to a red card.
Everton created a number of good chances, through Lawrence, Sherif and Cahill, but it was goalless at the break. Cahill and Jagne made way on the hour mark before Ed Jones was shown a red card and 10-man Everton held on for a point, with schoolboy Daniel Maher coming on in place of Martin Sherif for the last 15 minutes.
Everton U18s: Stewart, Quintyne, Wright, Jones [R:70'], Wilson, Jagne (59' Ebere), Djankpata, Apter, Sherif (74' Maher), Lawrence, Cahill (59' Smikle-James). Subs not Used: Jensen, Bates.
U18 Premier League North, Game #21 Saturday 2 April 2022 Academy of Light, Sunderland
It's the start of a busy final month of the 2021-22 season for Everton U18s with the first of six games to be completed. On Saturday, they traveled to the north-east for a U18 Premier League game against Sunderland at the Academy of Light, which they won through the only goal of the game, scored by Emilio Lawrence.
Ed Jones was missing as he sat out a suspension following the red card he picked up in the last game against Newcastle Utd U18s. Francis Okoronkwo, who scored 6 times in 7 games through the winter, has seen his goals dry up and has missed the last 2 games, putting the burden for goals back on Emilio Lawerence and Martin Sherif.
Other players who have been missing for a while, presumed injured, include Mathew Mallon and Jenson Metcalfe, but Jack Tierney was back until just after the break.
Martin Sherif hit the post in the first half and had another shot saved but it remained scoreless at the break, with Jack Tierney not lasting more than 2 minutes of the second half.
But just afterwards, Everton went ahead following a long driving run by Sherif who then played in Emilio Lawrence for a clinical first-time strike across the keeper and inside the far post. And that's how it stayed.
Everton U18s: Leban, Qunityne, Tierney (47' Heath), Samuels-Smith, Wright, Wilson, Djankpata, Barker, Apter (78' Cahill), Lawrence, Sherif (65' Smikle-James). Subs not Used: Graham.
U18 Premier League North, Game #22 Tuesday 5 April 2022 Brockhall, Blackburn
Games are coming thick and fast now for Everton U18s as they squeeze six into the final month of league competition.
Today, they travelled to deepest Lancashire and came back with a fine win over Blackburn Rovers at Brockhall
After a well-contested first half, Martin Sherif came off the bench after the break to replace Emilio Lawrence and score 10 minutes into the second half.
Jacob Beaumount-Clark entered the fray for his debut at U18 level as the Young Blues kept another clean sheet and secured a great win.
Everton U18s: Graham, Samuels-Smith, Wilson, Qunityne, Wright, Apter, Djankpata [Y:86'], Barker (83' Beaumount-Clark), Heath, Smikle-James (83' Cahill), Lawrence (46' Sherif [Y:89']). Subs not Used: Nash, Tierney.
U18 Premier League North, Game #23 Saturday 9 April 2022 Hayward Ground, Wolverhampton
As all eyes focus on the massive task in hand at Goodison Park today, where the first team take on Man Utd in the Premier League, the U18s kicked off against Wolves just as the senior line-ups are announced.
In the continuing absence of Francis Okoronkwo, Emilio Lawrence and Martin Sherif have added a smattering of goals with the defence tightening up substantially on the back of three clean sheets and only 2 goals conceded in 5 games since Leeds put 4 past them over a month ago.
But there were no goals for Everton today, while Wolves got the winner early in the second half.
Everton U18s: Graham, Quintyne, Wilson [Y:25'], Samuels-Smith, Wright, Apter, Djankpata, Barker, Heath (62' Lawrence), Sherif, Smikle-James (78' Jagne). Subs not Used: Nash, Tierney, Cahill.
U18 Premier League North, Game #24 Saturday 23 April 2022 Finch Farm
Everton Under-18s gave up a win over Burnley to a late equalizer after Owen Barker had given them the lead in the second half.
Everton U18s: Nash, Samuels-Smith, Tierney, Quintyne, Wright, Apter, Jagne (73' Coughlan), Barker, Heath, Djankpata (57' Ebere), Smikle-James (79' Cahill). Subs not Used: Graham, Maher.
U18 Premier League North, Game #25 Tuesday 26 April 2022 Clayton Wood, Stoke
Everton U18s were back in action for their penultimate game of the season, away to Stoke City, who secured a narrow win with a late goal.
Everton youngsters are looking to finish in the top half of the table after a mixed campaign which has seen them introduce a lot of very young players. They remain in 7th.
Everton U18s: Nash, Quintyne, Wright, Samuels-Smith, Tierney, Apter [Y:11'], Barker, Djankpata [Y:70'] (72' Mallon), Ebere, Smikle-James (65' Coughlan (84' Jagne)), Heath.Subs not Used: Graham, Cahill.
U18 Premier League North, Game #26 Tuesday 3 May 2022 Finch Farm
Everton U18s lost to Nottingham Forest in their final game of the season.
The visitors took the lead on 17 minutes and went further ahead with two more goals before Everton finally got on the scoresheet, Isaac Heath scoring less than 2 minutes after coming on as a sub in the second half.
But there were no further goals and the season ended with a home loss that will see the Blues finish between 9th and 11th in the U18 Premier League. In the 18 years since the inception of the U18s league, they have not finished outside the Top 5 before.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon, Campbell, Tierney, Quintyne (79' Wright), Samuels-Smith, Whitaker, Apter (79' Barker), Ebere, Djankpata, Smikle-James (68' Heath). Subs not Used: Nash, Cahill.
The 2021-22 Under-18 Premier League Cup is the fourth campaign of the domestic youth team cup competition, as it was replaced by the Under-17 version last season 2020-21. It pits Category 1 teams and some from Category 2 against each other in an initial three-game group stage. Groups are where clubs play each other once, either home or away, with the winners of the seven groups plus the best runner-up advancing to the quarter-finals. The knockout rounds aree one-off matches.
Everton were placed in Group G along with Arsenal, Burnley and West Ham Utd but failed to progress beyond the group stage.
U18 Premier League Cup, Group G; Game #1 Saturday 18 September 2021 Barnfield Training Centre, Burnley
Imam Jagne is back in action for Everton, with Kitia Kouyate returning from injury to make his first appearance this season. However, the Blues centre-forward showed a little rustiness perhaps, smashing a penalty for Everton over the bar with 9 minutes gone.
Everton then gave up a goal to the home side on 19 minutes, and that's how it stayed until half-time. Burnley went further ahead but on 56 minutes but Everton responded immediately with a goal from Issac Heath.
However, Burnley would go further ahead after 72 minutes to wrap up the game.
Everton U18s: Stewart, Wright (62' Coughlan), Jones (88' Apter), Tierney, Samuels-Smith, Jagne, Metcalfe, Baker, Heath, Kouyate (46' Sherif), Lawrence. Subs not Used: Graham.
U18 Premier League Cup, Group G; Game #2 Saturday 16 October 2021 USM Finch Farm
The score at half-time was 0-0 but Jenson Metcalfe put the Blues ahead after 72 minutes. The young Blues went further ahead just 6 minutes later, when striker Martin Sherif scored. And in a great finish to the game, Emilo Lawrence also got on the scoresheet before the end to seal an emphatic win.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon [Y:67'] (88' Wright), Samuels-Smith, Jones, Tierney, Metcalfe, Barker, Butterfield, Sherif, Lawrence (88' Jagne), Heath (60' Djankpata). Subs not Used: Stewart, Wilson.
U18 Premier League Cup, Group G; Game #3 Saturday 27 November 2021 USM Finch Farm
Everton started the game behind both Arsenal and Burnley in Group G of the Premier League Cup, with 3 points after beating West Ham, following on from their initial loss to Burnley back in September. A win was needed for them to have any chance of going through to the knock-out stages.
Francis Okoronkwo, 17, a new signing back in September from Sunderland's Academy, made his first Everton appearance off the bench. Katia Kouayate returned after a long absence through injury.
But the game started poorly for the young Blues and they were 2 goals behind inside the first 10 minutes. But the Blues did come back into it before the break, thanks to striker Martin Sherif and his fourth goal of the season.
And it was Martin Sheriff who was on target again after 50 minutes to get Everton right back into the game. Francis Okoronkwo then made his debut for Everton U18s, coming on as a sub for Charlie Whitaker but the game ended in a draw, terminating Everton's interest in this season's competition.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon, Wright, Campbell, Tierney, Butterfield, Quintyne, Metcalfe, Sherif (90' Manafa), Whitaker (68' Okoronkwo), Heath (46' Kouyate). Subs not Used: Nash, Jones.
The 2021-22 FA Youth Cup is the 70th campaign of English football's premier cup competition at youth level. Everton last won the trophy in 1998, being losing finalists in 2003 with a very young Wayne Rooney unable to carry them to the ultimate prize.
FA Youth Cup, 3rd Round Friday 10 December 2021 Pure Stadium, Southport
Everton's U18s kicked off their participation in this season's FA Youth Cup with a fine comeback win in a ding-dong game against Fulham at Goodison Park on Friday night.
Everton started the game showing some good intent to get forward ut Metcalfe was a little too eager with his heavy forward passes. Charlie Whitaker had the first decent shot at goal, then Mills than Whitaker again with an even better strike, all saved by the Fulham keeper.
But against the run of play, a parried save off Nash was finished with ease to put Fulham ahead in their first attack a quarter of the way through the game. That unfortunately was a massive blow to the confidence they had shown as the rain started pouring down on their Goodison parade.
The young Blues got back in attack mode toward the end of the half, and had a slew of chances, most which the Fulham keeper saved, one notable effort by Whitaker he stabbed wide.
Francis Okoronkwo came on to replace Kouyate after the break. But it was Fulham who looked like adding to their lead as Everton were pushed back and could produce nothing. That was until the two wingers combined superbly, Whitaker playing an excellent through-ball from half-way that Stan Mills could run onto and slide past the otherwise very solid Fulham keeper. Game on!
Then some much better football but it was a wicked deflection that helped Stan Mills score the go-ahead goal for the young Blues with 22 minutes to play.
Then a brilliant move started by Metcalfe and with Mills crossing perfectly for Okoronkwo but that excellent Fulham keeper stopped Everton's third with a fantastic save.
Fulham always looked to have a goal in them but a terrible backpass went past their keeper and Francis Okoronkwo was on it to lash the ball into the empty net from 3 inches out to make the win secure for the young Blues.
But the game ended on a sour note when Mallon went through on Harris and he reacted badly, a fierce scuffle ensued and ultimately both players were sent off as 4 minutes added became 9 and Diaz scored straight from the free-kick.
Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon [R:90+4'], Samuels-Smith, Campbell, Welch [Y:90'], Butterfield, Mills, Metcalfe, Kouyate (46' Okoronkwo), Price, Whitaker. Subs not Used: Stewart, Dixon, Tierney, Heath, Lawrence, Sherif.
FA Youth Cup, 4th Round Friday 14 January 2022 Pure Stadium, Southport
Everton Under-18s secured a fine win in the FA Youth Cup on Friday night beating Sheffield United 2-1 at Goodison Park to move into the 5th Round.
Everton won an early penalty when Okoronkwo was fouled but Isaac Price failed to convert from the spot.
Five minutes before the interval, his inch-perfect lofted pass was met with a clinical first-time finish from Mills - but it was flagged offside.
A goal from Francis Okoronkwo's just before the half-time interval finally gave the young Blues a deserved lead after he beat two defenders with a clever piece of skill and found the bottom corner with a precise side-footed finish.
That advantage was doubled just after the hour mark as Okoronkwo turned provider, setting up midfielder Stanley Mills to convert from close range for his fifth goal in his past five games.
The Blades pulled one back with a late header - but Paul Tait's side defended well in the closing stages to see out the result.
Scorers: Okoronkwo (43'), Mills (63'); Sachdev (88')
Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon, Samuels-Smith, Campbell [Y:38'], Welch, Butterfield, Mills [Y:55'], Price, Sherif (83' Lawrence), Barker (73' Jagne), Okoronkwo. Subs not Used: Stewart, Quintyne, Tierney, Djankpata, Heath.
FA Youth Cup, 5th Round Wednesday 9 February 2022 Old Trafford, Manchester
Everton's Under-18s took the lead against Manchester United this evening but ended up getting knocked out of the FA Youth Cup.
Everton took the lead through Francis Okoronkwo after just 11 minutes. The forward confidently slotted home after brilliant work by Martin Sherif, who played him in after a fine run.
But the home side were quickly level. Butterfield was harshly judged to have fouled Garnacho in the box and Charlie McNeill scored from the spot.
After Price hit the bar, Man Utd took the lead with a simple header.
Everton fought to get back level in the second half and Sherif seemed to be all set to do it from a corner but his header went just wide. But the home side went up the other end and scored after two shots were blocked.
Everton kept pressing forward, but were not having much luck, a great shot by Metcalfe hitting the outside of the post.
Man Utd looked to make it 4 but Nash deflected his shot behind, the corner headed straight at Nash.
From an Everton corner, Mallon lost a footrace with Garnacho who went on to score the 4th for the home side, dumping the young Blues out of the cup for yet another season.
Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon [Y:83'], Samuels-Smith, Campbell, Welch, Butterfield [Y:14'], Mills (73' Djankpata), Metcalfe [Y:60'], Sherif, Price (85' Barker), Okoronkwo (73' Lawrence). Subs not Used: Stewart, Tierney, Quintyne, Jagne.
New Scholars (mostly Under-16s) this season (although some appeared at the end of last season) include:
Other new names at this level include: Matthew Apter, Jacob Beaumont-Clark, Jack Butler, Coby Ebere, Emilio Lawrence, Johnson Opawole, Ishé Samuels-Smith, Martin Sherif, and a newcomer brought in from Sunderland – Francis Okoronkwo
Everton Under-18 Squad Page at TransferMarket.co.uk
Pre-season Friendly, Game #1 Saturday 24 July 2021 Finch Farm
Everton U18s beat Bolton U18s 3-0 on Saturday, with goals from Jack Tierney, Isaac Heath, and Coby Ebere.
No further information on the teamsheet or game action, but it was a side consisting mostly of players from last season's U16s, along with the best out of the U15s as the Academy looks to accelerate the development of younger players this season.
Everton U18s: No teamsheet available
Pre-season Friendly, Game #2 Tuesday 3 August 2021 Finch Farm
Pre-season Friendly, Game #3 Saturday 7 August 2021 Finch Farm
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