U18s win at Middlesbrough

Saturday, 28 January, 2017 7comments | Jump to most recent

Everton Under-18s came back to beat Middlesbrough 3-2 after going behind to an early own-goal.

The Blues Academy side, still harbouring hope of making the end-of-season title play-offs, suffered the worst possible start when the hosts went ahead through a Ryan Harrington own goal inside four minutes.

An untypical slow start was further punished by Brandon Holdsworth midway through the half, but Kevin Sheedy's side responded in style after the break.

First, Tom Scully grabbed his first goal at Under-18s level on the hour-mark with a volley from close range, before the team's leading scorer Fraser Hornby made it 2-2 with 20 minutes still to find a winner.

And find one they did, as 16-year-old substitute Korede Adedoyin was in the right place to net from close range when Hornby's 85th-minute shot was parried.

Everton U18s: Pierce, N Baxter, Moore, Bramall, Hornby, Scully, John (65' Duke-McKenna), Denny, Kiersey (65' Adedoyin), Harrington, Collins.
Subs not Used: Jones, Ouzounidis, Mampala.

Reader Comments (7)

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Anthony Dwyer
1 Posted 29/01/2017 at 11:24:45

It seems we have good news all the time coming up through the younger age groups, long may it continue.

Phill Thompson
2 Posted 29/01/2017 at 12:38:36

Looking at that team, there are not many 2nd-year scholars in there, meaning quite a few will be playing U18s next season. There are a few like Collins and Adedoyin who are not even scholars yet, so it's looking good if.

The reality is that they are not as good as the U18 batch we had last year but, if they can get into the top 4 by the time the league splits, they will have achieved something.

Alan J Thompson
3 Posted 29/01/2017 at 15:06:45

Comments 1 & 2 make interesting reading. If this is an almost new U-18s where are the last group at this age level and given the number of players out on loan and U-23s, how does everyone get game time?

Michael Kenrick
4 Posted 29/01/2017 at 17:54:45

I've been trying to track the amount of turnover / attrition we have at U18 and U23 level... not easy as names come and go, but I believe that more than half of this team are in fact regulars this season â€“ have a look at the updated Appearances Table in our U18s page.

In think around half of the 16 players in yesterday's squad where involved at this level last season, which is about right, I guess; I think a player on average stays at this level for perhaps two seasons... three at the most.

We have a good number graduating to the U23s each season, obviously, but with the age group now expanded (up from 21), players can be at the next level for 3, 4 or 5 seasons or longer if they don't break through to the first-team squad.

Dermot Byrne
5 Posted 29/01/2017 at 17:58:45

Seems a good situation that Ed

Phill Thompson
6 Posted 29/01/2017 at 23:13:16

Michael, I would say only 3 of that team featured in last season's U18 "regularly", Kiersey, Harrington, and maybe Bramall. Denny got the odd game.

To answer Akan Thompson's question of where are last season's U18s? Well a number we're eligible for U18 and played a few games like FA Youth Cup but were the best of the bunch, and moved up to U21 as it was last season: Davies, Connolly, Walsh and Dowell. Also Evans in that category but he's a year younger now 2nd year Scholar. Call these 1st Tier players

Of the others who were U18 from last season, a number of talented youngsters haven't featured much in the U23s this season, e.g. Brewster, Broadhead, Donohue, Yates, and Holland. Brewster and Yates are on loan, Holland is now at West Ham. Call these 2nd Tier.

Of the others from last season's U18s, realism says they are on their way out, eg, Bainbridge, Yarney, and a few others, 3rd Tier players.

If I apply the same criteria to current U18s, none are playing U23s as regularly as last season's crop but I'd say Morgan Feeney, Antony Evans, Beni Baningime are the pick with Shayne Lavery and Jack Kiersey also making Tier 1.

Alan J Thompson
7 Posted 30/01/2017 at 04:50:56

I seem to recall back in the '50s & '60s there was, 1st team apart, a reserve team, an 'A' side and a 'B' side (not sure if there was anything below that although Liverpool Schoolboys covered ages 14 & 15), which makes me wonder why there are not more age levels or would this just mean Premier League clubs sweeping up all young talent.

Given that Academies seem to be signing kids from about age 7, is there much schools football, at all ages, and how do they recruit kids at that age, scouting or writing in asking for trials?

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