FA Youth Cup

 PAGE CONTENTS

Day Date   Rnd  Ven Opponents                 Res     Scorers                   
Fri 10 Dec  3   (H) Fulham                    3-2     Mills, Okoronkwo 2
Fri 12 Jan  4   (H) Sheffield Utd             2-1     Okoronkwo, Mills
Wed  9 Feb  5   (A) Manchester Utd            1-4     Okoronkwo

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.

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 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:??'], Welch, Butterfield, Mills [Y:55'], Price, Sherif (83' Lawrence), Barker (73' Djankpata), Okoronkwo.
Subs not Used: Stewart, Dixon, Tierney, Jagne, Heath.

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, Dixon, Jagne.