Everton U21s 1 – 2 Man Utd U21s
The PL2 clash between Everton U21s and Man Utd 21s on Friday night at Walton Hall Park ended in a narrow defeat for the home side.
The game was streamed live and free to Forever Blue+ Members, who were also eligible for a free ticket if they can get to the ground.
The last time these teams met was when they had been drawn to play each other in the Round of 16 Playoffs for last season’s PL2 trophy. But it didn’t end well for Paul Tait’s charges on that day in April when they lost 4-2 and with it the remote chance of lifting the trophy.
Everton U21s seemed to have gotten off to a good start this season with wins against Solihull Moors in the National League Cup, and Blackburn Rovers in the first PL2 game of the season.
But five consecutive losses in subsequent games took any gloss off that until they recorded a narrow win away to Middlesbrough in the Riverside Stadium last Friday night.
On the night…
The Blues went behind to a well-taken goal in the first half. But with half-time approaching, an excellent pacey cross from Josh van Schoor across the face of the goal at head height was met with a great header by Omari Benjamin from close in. The Blues went on all square at half-time.
Jack Patterson seemed to jar his knee in a challenge and he went off for Callum Bates in the second haLf. But the Blues were pegged back for long spells and eventually the Red Devils scrambled in a very scrappy goal to take the lead 12 minutes before the end.
Everton U21s: G Pickford, Finney, Van Schoor (87′ Campbell), Tamen, Thomas, J Patterson (54′ Bates), Beaumont-Clark (74′ Clarke), Gomez [Y:85′], Benjamin (87′ Ebere), Graham, Catesby.
Subs not Used: Lukjanciks.