Mansfield Town 0 – 1 Everton U21s
Everton U21s bowed out of EFL Trophy for this season despite beating Mansfield Town of League Two at the One Call Stadium.
Having already lost both matches against Doncaster Rovers and Burton Albion, they sit bottom of Northern Group H and will not be progressing to the knock-out stages but it provides another opportunity for Seamus Coleman to ramp up his recovery from a serious knee injury sustained last season.
With a slew of U21 players missing, Paul Tait has been able to call upon other fringe players from the first-team squad to make up the numbers and give them a competitive runout, including Joao Virginia, Lewis Dobbin and Youssef Chermiti.
It was an even contest in the first half with no goals at the break. There were some decent chances for Metcalfe, Dobbin and Okoronkwo. A quick breakaway near the end saw Dixon set up Barker who skied his shot from 6 yards as neither team seemed to want penalties.
From a late Everton throw-in in the last minute, after he was pulled down, Yousseff Chermiti stood up to power home from the spot. Virginia had to make a tremendous save in added time.
Everton U21s: Virginia, Coleman (66′ Dixon), Astley, John [Y:70′] (73′ Barker (88′ Heath)), Campbell, Hunt, Dobbin, Djankpata (66′ McAllister), Metcalfe, Okoronkwo, Chermiti [Y:73′].
Subs not Ued: Barrett, Butler, Sherif.
Attendance: 819