Michael Kenrick 02/09/2025 3comments  |  Jump to last
Doncaster Rovers 2 - 1 Everton U21s

Everton U21s lost the first game of their participation in the EFL Trophy this season to Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium on Tuesday evening despite a late equaliser scored by Justin Clarke.

The competition is now called the Vertu Trophy after the latest change in sponsorship, and sees 16 Category One Academy Premier League development teams (Under-21s) pitted against senior professional first teams in clubs from League One and League Two.  This season, Everton U21s play Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City and Grimsby Town in Group C of the Northern section. 

A surprise inclusion in the Blues side was Adam Aznou, who played as part of his recovery from sustaining an injury soon after joining Everton from Bayern Munich. Aznou was named on the Everton first-team subs bench last weekend at Wolves but was withdrawn from the warm-up and declared unfit to play. 

After the home side had scored early in the game, Justin Clarke fired in an equaliser 2 minutes into second-half stoppage time.  But a deflected effort in the dying seconds stole the win and all the points for Doncaster Rovers. 

Everton U21s: G Pickford, Finney, Campbell (46' Samuels-Smith), Thomas, Tamen, Aznou (81' Benjamin), Gomez (90' van Schoor), Bates, Catesby (65' Ebere), Beaumont-Clark [Y], Clarke.

Subs not Used:  Davis, Moonan, Patrick.

 

Reader Comments (3)

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David Bromwell
1 Posted 07/09/2025 at 12:06:17
The Echo are carrying a report today with reference to 'whiz kid' Justin Clarke, who brings his early season tally to 3 goals. Sounds like good news, also Isaac Heath has a glowing report from his manager following his first match on loan at Accrington.

Finally, can somebody please update me on what has happened to Harry Tyrer? I have asked before but have missed any updates.

I do believe that these young players should be the lifeblood of the Club and try to keep updated on their progress or otherwise.

Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 07/09/2025 at 13:06:56
Yea, I saw that puff piece on Justin Clarke in The Echo.

I really like him and the way he plays the game.

Harry Tyrer probably should have gone out on loan (for the third season in a row) after we splashed the cash on Mark Travers and Tom King. But I don't think he did. Is David Moyes keeping him around so he can have three goalies on the bench???

At 23, he's now too old for the U21s… although he can still play for them as an over-age goalie. But he hasn't done this yet so far this season. His only appearance after pre-season was in the senior squad as the second of two goalies on the bench at Leeds. He has not been spotted since.

David Bromwell
3 Posted 07/09/2025 at 17:12:47
Re Harry Tyrer, thank you Michael. I have a feeling that young Harry spent the last three seasons out on loan and came back with glowing reports from the clubs he played for. I would have hoped that he would automatically have taken the number 2 jersey, so something doesn't seem quite right.
Sadly our record of moving young players up to the first team is not great and it often seems criminal to me that many of these lads spend 10 years with the Club and are then let go. Let's hope for Harry and others things might improve.

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