Rhyl 0 - 1 Everton U21s

Michael Kenrick , 26 July, 16comments | Jump to most recent

An Everton XI plus subs drawn mostly from the ranks of the Under-21s who did not travel to Thailand with the first-team squad are in Wales today for their third pre-season friendly at Rhyl.

Everton took the lead after 26 mins when George Green tried to work an opening in the box but was tackled; however, Kieran Dowell was on hand to rifle his shot past the keeper.

The Blues boys had another couple of opportunities to build on their lead before half-time but the score it remained 0-1. Gethin Jones replaced McLaughlin after the break.

The first chance of the second period fell to Rhyl, their striker shooting high but Griffiths was at full stretch to tip it away. There was a nice flowing move from Everton with Grant feeding Williams, who in turn found Jones but when he picked out Green, the shot was tame. Conor Grant and Courtney Duffus, were replaced by Ryan Ledson and Sam Byrne, just after the hour.

George Green put in some nice work, tracking his man & putting in two tackles to stop the cross helping Everton clear their lines and attack once more as Rhyl kept pushing for the equalizer.

The final changes saw Harry Charsley and Calum Dyson replace Joe Williams — who had been excellent — and George Green. Conor Grant also came back on in place of Jonjoe Kenny, playing at left-back.

Another good move saw Kieran Dowell waltz through the Rhyl defence and play in Grant, but his shoot was narrowly wide of the target. George Green then returned to the field, on for Dowell, whose goal had won this game. A deflected strike from Ledson fizzed over the bar as time ticked away.

Everton U21s: Griffiths; Kenny (72' Grant), McLaughlin (46' Jones), Langton, Pennington; Green (71' Charsley), Dowell, Williams (71' Dyson); Walsh, Grant (61' Ledson), C Duffus (61' Byrne).
Subs: Burgess.

Reader Comments (16)

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Kieran Kinsella
1 Posted 26/07/2014 at 16:26:27

On Twitter Tim Cahill said Kieran Dowell is the best young player he has seen.

Brian Garside
2 Posted 26/07/2014 at 16:45:39

Didn't he say that about Barkley too?

Kieran Kinsella
3 Posted 26/07/2014 at 16:51:14

Brian,

I don't know but the Dowell remarks caught my attention because it was in response to his thoughts on Ledson, McAleny, Green, Garbutt, etc all of whom are older. Cahill just said Dowell is the best of the lot. With that being said, Cahill also thought Beckford should be our starting Number Nine... but it's interesting nonetheless.

Harold Matthews
4 Posted 26/07/2014 at 17:30:00

Expected more goals. Report says Joe Williams was excellent. He was absolute mustard against Wrexham.

Michael Roberts
5 Posted 26/07/2014 at 17:54:04

I went to Wales to watch the game. Liam Walsh was the best player on the pitch, he controlled the game, never stopped running and Â– even though he was the smallest on the pitch Â– he never got beat in the air.

I have never saw a player so good so young...

Sam Hoare
6 Posted 26/07/2014 at 17:59:17

Think there's some great players in this group but they lack an out and out goalscorer, perhaps because Chris Long is with the first team. Duffus is a physical presence but maybe not a natural scorer. Maybe Henen will be the answer but it seems strikers is what we need at all levels at the moment.

Harold Matthews
7 Posted 26/07/2014 at 18:11:59

True, Sam, although Southport-born 16-year-old Delial Brewster is supposed to be pretty hot for his age.

Matthew Svatos
8 Posted 26/07/2014 at 18:45:17

The player I hope is going to get his first team chance this season has to be Courtney Duffus. I have been keeping an eye on both Under-18s and Under-21s match reports over the past couple of seasons and his name just keeps popping up. He looks a long-term project at the least and I definitely hope he's coming through. Definitely sounds better than Hope, but he still has to compete with the likes of Long and McAleny......

Matthew Svatos
9 Posted 26/07/2014 at 18:48:35

And at Brian #002, wasn't he right about Barkley? The last player to come through the ranks and establish himself as a first team player? I hope Dowell and Ledson become anything like young Ross and become the next big things to challenge for first team places.

Sam Hoare
10 Posted 26/07/2014 at 21:53:55

Harold, yes Brewster sounds very promising but not sure if he's a striker or a winger/attacking midfielder?

Either way I reckon we could use a few more goalscorers.

Patrick Murphy
11 Posted 26/07/2014 at 22:19:57

Now if only Brewster could get a couple of crazy-old Billionaires to give a huge wad of money to spend by the end of the transfer window...

Mind you, if he has to go through the Board he would fail the task miserably. It would make a good film... oh, hang on a minute!

Brendan O'Neill
12 Posted 26/07/2014 at 22:17:46

There is a very good batch of players coming through amongst the first year scholars. DM was quoted a few years ago saying that this was the best group within all the year groups.
Kieran Dowell, Liam Walsh, Michael Donahue, Delial Brewster, Callum Connolly and others are all very highly regarded and have a great chance.

Brendan O'Neill
13 Posted 26/07/2014 at 22:41:47

Further to my previous post, the coaches regard this first year scholar group, who are 16-year-olds, mainly as the best group since the age group which produced Hibbert, Osman, Richard Dunne, Jeffers, Cadamarteri, Jevons Â— who have all to a greater or lesser extent enjoyed successful careers.

Harold Matthews
14 Posted 26/07/2014 at 22:55:05

Sam. He was interviewed last week and announced himself as a striker. Of course we might shift him elsewhere.

He said his favourite player was Barkley and his main assets were pace and finishing. He is now working on his heading and weaker foot.

Kieran Kinsella
15 Posted 27/07/2014 at 04:40:07

Patrick Murphy,

Best thing about your idea is the fact the billionaires will reward Brewsters spending by giving him more untold riches. Kind of like the set up John Hall and Freddie Fletcher had with Kevin Keegan-- maybe that's where they got the idea!

John Crawley
16 Posted 27/07/2014 at 09:54:14

Harold I saw Joe Williams a few times last year and the amount he improved over the course of the season was ridiculous. A hard worker, likes a tackle but also has a great range of passing.

Courtney Duffus looks to have great promise as a forward. Fast, strong, good technique not sure how clinical is he is but he's scored or looked dangerous whenever I've seen him.

It's hopefully serendipitous that the right manager has arrived at the same time a great crop of youngsters are about to emerge.

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