Michael Kenrick 16/08/2024 11comments  |  Jump to last
Everton U21s 3 - 1 Blackburn Rovers U21s

Everton U21s kick off the new Premier League 2 season tonight with a very good win over Blackburn Rovers at Southport's Big Help Stadium.

Everton had a more youthful look to their team with Callum Bates, Jacob Beaumont-Clark and Martin Sherif stepping up to this level after impressing for the Toffees' Under-18s side last season.

Paul Tait did not have the talents of Harrison Armstrong, Jenson Metcalfe, or Elijah Campbell to call upon, suggesting they may have been further upgraded to the senior squad for attendance on the subs bench at Goodison Park and the opening Premier League game of the season against Brighton tomorrow.

But there was a first sighting of new talent William Tamen, the 18-year-old centre-back signed from Burton Albion for an undisclosed fee last week. He joined Omari Benjamin the other new face in this squad, although Kingsford Boakye was not involved.

Article continues below video content


Everton U21s just played a Blackburn side last week as part of their pre-season preparation but came out on the wrong side of a 3-0 scoreline, so were well motivated to seek some revenge this evening. 

And Everton got off to a great start, Roman Dixon breaking down the right and pulling the ball back for Isaac Heath to plant an excellent finish past the Rovers keeper inside 3 minutes. 

George Pickford in goal for Everton had to make three good saves to make sure the Blues kept their early lead before Everton scored again after 16 minutes, a cross from Roman Dixon eluding everyone including the Rovers keeper, Jack Barrett, formerly with the Everton Academy. 

However, in the highlights of the game provided later, this goal is credited to Francis Okoronkwo, who runs across the line of the ball in front of the keeper, although doesn't appear to actually touch it. But the players' celebration seems to suggest that he indeed got the final touch. 

Everton did well until just before the break when a heavy deflection wrong-footed Pickford, who was finally beaten. 

Everton came under the cosh in the second half but finally sealed the win in added time when Omari Benjamin slipped the ball through to Martin Sherif who finished superbly. 

Everton U21s: G Pickford, Dixon, Butler, Tamen, Welch [Y:59'], Butterfield, Heath, Djankpata (63' Bates), Okoronkwo (72' Beaumont-Clark), Whitaker (72' Sherif), Benjamin (90+4' Samuels-Smith).

Subs not Used: Barnsley.

 

Reader Comments (11)

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Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 16/08/2024 at 18:34:51

There is no video streaming of the match tonight because it clashes with a Premier League fixture but the official website shows links to a live blog and possibly an audio commentary as well.  

Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 16/08/2024 at 18:37:17
So Armstrong, Campbell and Metcalfe may be on the bench with the big boys tomorrow…

Dixon, not so much.

Brent Stephens
3 Posted 16/08/2024 at 18:46:01
Subs Barnsley, Samuels-Smith, Bates, Beaumont-Clark, Sherif.
Robert Tressell
4 Posted 17/08/2024 at 08:06:39
I'd be pleased to see Metcalfe get a chance on loan somewhere.
Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 17/08/2024 at 08:35:33
So on the live blog of this game, which was kindly provided gratis and free of charge by our wonderful Official Club Website, the writer proceeded to describe the heroic antics of one Billy Crellin in goal throughout almost the whole match.

Before deciding that, in the 87th minute, perhaps it really was George Pickford in goal, and not Billy Crellin, as depicted on the Everton-provided teamsheet graphic posted on Twitter before the game.

Or was it really Billy Crellin and not George Pickford? We may never know…

Michael Kenrick
6 Posted 17/08/2024 at 08:42:20
At least by the time Darren Griffiths composed his brief match report for the official site, he had decided that it was in fact George Pickford in goal, and not Billy Crellin… Doh!!
Dave Abrahams
7 Posted 19/08/2024 at 15:10:33
Michael (6),

On the official site it also says Okoronkwo scored the second goal.

Dave Abrahams
8 Posted 19/08/2024 at 15:16:56
Sorry, Michael, it says that on YouTube not the official site.
Michael Kenrick
9 Posted 19/08/2024 at 16:02:33
That must be the highlights I just watched on the horrible new official website, Dave.

In the highlights, the second goal is credited to Francis Okoronkwo, who runs across the line of the ball in front of the keeper, although doesn't appear to actually touch it. But the players' celebration seems to suggest that he indeed got the final touch. 

Of course, you can still read this in the match report from Darren Griffiths who was presumably there at the game:

The second Everton goal had more than a touch of good fortune about it. Dixon's speculative low cross into the box was missed by everyone — including former Everton goalkeeper Jack Barrett — and nestled in the back of the net.

Life is just one never-ending sequence of mysteries, Dave, like the vanishing line-up and subs for the Brighton game... or have you spotted them yet???

And will you be heading under the river to watch the U21s take on the Superwhites at Prenton Park tomorrow? I think Brent wants some company!

James Marshall
10 Posted 19/08/2024 at 16:14:00
The new OS is unbelievably awful — who the hell designed that?!

It looks completely amateurish, badly laid out, the colours are shite, no borders on anything. It's a garbled soup.

Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 19/08/2024 at 16:22:52
Michael (9), I wouldn't go to Birkenhead on my own after it gets dark Michael!

Yes I got the information about Saturdays subs from a very kind ToffeeWeb user Fred Quick, thanks again Fred. I apologise Michael if you have put them up since I asked about them.

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