Tremendous added time comeback as Everton U21s beat Mansfield Town at Goodison Park

Not bad for one of our board directors, a great salary for answering the phone, a kid just out of school could have done that and with an understandable Liverpool accent.

Imagine being able to change the exies, to what the Queen of Scotland Rd, said, Dave, whilst waving goodbye to Chairman Bill. I've got a tear in my eye just thinking about it.

I hope the boys do well tonight, put in a performance and enjoy the occasion.

Denise giving the toffees out tonight ?

Ben Godfrey's third game for the U21s to get him back to match fitness.

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Three players I think we are missing through injury are Sean McAllister, Kyle John and Charlie Whitaker.

Talk of more players going out on loan in January, which will further weaken this team.

I'm sure the many scouts there tonight will be eyeing up a few deals. Cannon and Welch have looked good and maybe they'll go on loan, possibly Mills too.

I fancy Price to stay. Although it'll weaken the side the answer lies on the bench with the likes of Samuels-Smith, Kouyate, Djankpata ready to move up. Tis the Circle of Life!

Eli Campbell I'm looking forward to seeing more of. He could become a fixture next season. Isaac Heath too could get on a roll with an injury-free spell.

I thought that might be it. Would seem more logical for the club to concentrate all spectators in the Main Stand.

I seldom see our fringe players not in the starting 11 play full games as before. And when they don't play any games at all, how can they improve? Only Godfrey playing...

I am pleased the U21s won the game. Don't misunderstand.

Going to the game and walking down Bullens Road coming from Stanley Park, at the first turnstile, about 30 fans were being frisked by two stewards… turned out they were Mansfield fans, getting frisked!! Ah for God's sake – they should have been getting welcomed with a hot drink at the very least, unbelievable to me.

So when Everton scored those two late goals ,it was very hard not to feel sorry for those Mansfield fans walking out of the ground at the end of the game with a victory snatched from them and a long trek home.

It wasn't a great game by any stretch of the imagination and, with some of these young lads not long starting 3-year contracts, I expected them to be really breaking a gut to show what they could do. Some did in spells but appeared listless and not going all out to impress.

To me, they didn't appear to appreciate how privileged they are to be in the position they are in. Not a single one of them impressed me with their performance tonight.

And as for any plan they were playing to, I failed to see it, with the dreary passing to each other playing out of defence then finishing within diagonal passes that went to the opposition, out of play, or occasionally had the winger on the touchline stretching to keep the ball in.

Not a night to watch football really but one to play in and run around, keep yourself busy and warm in doing so. As I said before, most of them looked listless.

Ben Godfrey was just there for a runout and looked well off the pace apart from a couple of runs in the second half. Some of his passes were very poor but he has an excuse, he is feeling his way into football after his injury.

The other players missed a good chance to impress by showing they wanted to learn and improve. Two or three looked like they think they have already made the grade… they have got an awful lot to learn before they get to that point.

I don't think there is any excuse for poor passing from Ben Godfrey particularly at this level, whether 80% fit or 100% fit. He's on a physical comeback course but I think he has always needed to work on the mental side of his game.

The composure, awareness, the reading of the game. The attributes that take players out of the sea of average ones. I'm still very hopeful for Godfrey that this aspect will improve with experience, if so we'll have a top defender.

But you get heaps and heaps of brownie points for turning up and sticking it out to the bitterly cold end. Hopefully the goals made you a little happy?

Gaute @28,

It's a good question and one that bugs the fans who can recall going to watch the reserves in the halcyon days of the Central League – which stayed pretty much the same for 60 years.

As with all things, it seems, change is inevitable – and that started 30 years ago, with the Reserves transitioning into Academy sides for grooming young players.

The idea that fringe players need match practice in the U21s or the U23s disappeared years ago. The likes of Godfrey's appearances are an absolutely rarity – maybe one or two in the entire season.

Apparently, players have clauses in their contracts nowadays stipulating that they only play for the first team and so will never appear for the U21s (despite a provision remaining for overage players) – no matter how 'fringe' they are.

Things just ain't like they used to be. But what are you gonna do???

Give me real football on a chilly November night at Goodison under lights; give me the Papa John's and a dramatic injury-time win any day. Shove the FIFA World Cup up your VAR-se – nothing beats live action.

Yes, I quite enjoyed that game. It took me right back to Coventry City, 1983. Okay, not quite the same significance but it got me excited.

It was a big win for that team, I think. I'm not sure how many of the Mansfield team are first choice but they were big and imposing and this led to an uncertain start from Everton. They worked their way into it though, keeping to a passing game without threatening much. It was looking all over as a 1-0 defeat but they kept at it and got the reward.

Stand-out players? Reece Welch was the pick for me. Calm and composed on the ball, reads the game well and so doesn't have to make crazy tackles. He could be the next cab off the rank and might make some departures (Mina, Keane) more likely.

Quirk was energetic in midfield and Okoronkwo showed some nice touches. Mills and Price come with a star billing these days and both found it hard but kept battling away; maybe just the challenge they need. Price played a few typical first-time passes, including a couple that no-one spotted.

Then there is Tom Cannon. I can't quite make him out. I've seen him a few times and placed lots of others ahead of him in the 'likely to make it category.' He has a heavy touch sometimes, lacks the sophistication of some others and even runs in a strange way. But things happen. He was fully committed for 90 minutes but got nowhere much.

Then got a head injury, was off for several minutes getting it bandaged, came back on, 30 seconds later a great touch for the equaliser (great finish by Higgjns) and then an expert finish of his own to win it. Things happen, he's one of those.

A mention for the Mansfield fans (a fair few of them), at one stage they sang 'Your support is fucking shit!' Top marks for humour.

Finally, what is a Papa John? I'll buy one tomorrow.

Yes, I was happy with the result but the performance is what is really important at this level and I couldn't honestly be happy with that. It pains me to be criticising young players, not the playing poorly but the lack of effort at times and the lackadaisical way they performed was disheartening to me; I expect at the very least maximum effort.

Maybe it is a sign of the times, there are loads of good genuine kids but an awful lot also who think it is their right to an easy path to the top, it isn't, you've got to work hard and fight your way to glory and the money that comes with it.

I know you keep records of appearances in the younger teams, I think you will find that Dave Unsworth used quite a few over-age players in his U23s teams and they helped him to win Premier League 2 titles and a cup if I'm not mistaken.

And as for “But what are you gonna do”? Well, Michael, isn't obvious? Bring the bleedin' Central League back!

And yes, I know your answer, Michael, “But they won't, will they, Dave?” And you would be correct… daft so-and-sos.

I had a friend who I played at Tranmere with who scored the stuffiest goals you could ever see and he went on to play for Point of Ayr in the Welsh league and score a record 80 goals in a season.

He could be missing for most of a game but would always score in every game.

Yeah, I'm expecting a steady stream of Wayne Rooneys to come flying off the conveyor belt now.

I wouldn't wish Unsworth any ill will at Oldham, but undoubtedly Paul Tait has raised the game of the likes of Cannon, Quirk and Anderson, they are playing their best football for us.

The win last night with such a young team and actually topping the Group when we had to play each game away is quite an achievement for Tait.

Essentially they're like all the other Conference teams only poorer (footballing and money-wise) and with delusions of grandeur which brings added pressure.

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I wouldn't send him on loan. We have one healthy not very good striker in our squad. We need him.