Everton U21s hit for six by Stockport County

Michael Kenrick 18/08/2026 20comments | Jump to last

Stockport County 6 - 3 Everton U21s

Everton U21s were hit for six by Stockport County at Edgely Park on Tuesday evening in their first EFL Trophy game this season.

The Everton youngsters didn't have a great first half, givng up three goals by the break.

Stockport were playing through a half-hearted press with ease and then pressing aggressively themselves, leaving Everton with long balls up to Graham and Loney. Matos put himself about and Pickford had some decent saves but that's was about it.

Everton U21s: G Pickford, Finney, Tamen, Gardner (81' Thomas), Van Schoor [Y:76'], Foster, Brookes (56' J Patterson [Y:71']), Graham, Matos (82' Nsangou), Loney (82' Benjamin) Catesby (69' Clarke).

Subs not Used: Lukjanciks, Lambert.

Reader Comments (20)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

Dave Abrahams
1 Posted 18/08/2026 at 19:17:33

Everton U21s are playing Stockport County tonight in an EFL Trophy game if anybody is interested!

Dave Abrahams
2 Posted 18/08/2026 at 19:23:29

We are losing 1-0 with Mothersille, who once was on our books, scoring the goal.

Ian Wilkins
3 Posted 18/08/2026 at 19:47:14

Watching the U21s, they’re having a tough time of it at Stockport, some of it self-imposed by our defence.

Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 18/08/2026 at 19:48:51

Now 2-0 to Stockport.

Camps the scorer.

Ian Wilkins
5 Posted 18/08/2026 at 19:51:52

Make that 3-0 HT Dave.

Geoff Williams
6 Posted 18/08/2026 at 20:06:23

Watching the Under-21s getting a football lesson by Stockport's 2nd team is very worrying. Far too casual and careless in defence. Not one player has enhanced their reputation.

Why participate in competitions if they are not being taken seriously? I hope this is not an indication of what is to come in the Carabao Cup.

Ian Wilkins
7 Posted 18/08/2026 at 20:36:30

3-2 now with 15 mins left. Much better showing from young Blues 2nd half.

Ian Wilkins
8 Posted 18/08/2026 at 20:54:11

It’s now Stockport County 6- 3 Everton U21s.

From 3-0 down Everton got this back to 3-3, but just didn’t defend properly thereafter. 5 mins left.

Stockport were last season's losing finalists for this trophy.

Dave Abrahams
9 Posted 18/08/2026 at 20:54:45

5-3 now with Graham getting two goals, one a penalty and Mothersille getting another for Stockport.

Dave Abrahams
10 Posted 18/08/2026 at 20:58:15

6-3 with Jimmy Mothersille getting his hat trick!

I knew we should have hung onto him!

Ian Wilkins
11 Posted 18/08/2026 at 21:45:22

I see the Echo has Braiden Graham as a 9/10. He scored two, one a penalty, one a great individual goal.
He does some good things, but for a player training with the first team, on the bench pre season, he’s not involved enough for me, and easily knocked off the ball. I hope he develops further.
Matos, 17 years of age I think, in the middle of the park, looked a prospect.

Si Cooper
12 Posted 18/08/2026 at 23:30:47

Dave, I don't think he was ever actually on our books.

The information I found said he had 3 game trial (when he was on Chelsea's books) but we didn't then sign him.

Another one that got away?

Peter Thistle
13 Posted 19/08/2026 at 04:04:23

It's unacceptable for us to ever lose to Stockport at any level.

To get battered 6-3 shows the shitty state of our club at all ages. Sack everyone and start again...

Mike Gaynes
14 Posted 19/08/2026 at 06:46:10

Peter #13,

"...Sack everyone and start again..."

Have you been on the Space Station or meditating in a cave somewhere? We did sack everyone and start again.

U21 head coach Paul Tait was fired just a few weeks ago, the latest move in Nick Cox's 11-month total rebuild of the Academy structure. He just hired a new Academy Director.

The youth coaching director stayed on but most coaches were sacked, and a bunch of prominent U21 players were released, including Roman Dixon, Okoronkwo, Onyango and Reece Welch. Younger players are being brought in, and the U-18s just demolished Leeds 6-1.

Great recommendation, Peter... just a year late!

Dave Abrahams
15 Posted 18/08/2026 at 08:42:49

Ian (11) Yes Ian one man’s meat is another man’s poison, I agree Braiden could be bigger but what difference would that make for a player who’s got a good football brain along with his positional expertise, as young as he is, which helps him to score plenty of goals and assist in quite a few,

He should be in the match squad a lot more than he is and getting a lot more minutes on the field than Moyes is prepared to give him, I hope he doesn’t go out on loan although there will be a queue of clubs ready to snap him up, he would learn more here and a lot more with a different manager.

Ian Wilkins
16 Posted 19/08/2026 at 14:54:13

Dave, I'm not against Braiden Graham, I think he's probably the best finisher we have on our books, his 2nd last night was sublime.

For someone pressing for inclusion in first team squad, I'd just like to see him a bit more prominent in the game at U21 level.

I completely agree: first team inclusion isn't going to happen under David Moyes.

Phil Smith
17 Posted 19/08/2026 at 17:36:06

I can't believe we let Roman Dixon go and that he only was picked up by a League Two side.

He had pace to burn, this kid.

Martin Berry
18 Posted 19/08/2026 at 19:06:21

I thought Braiden was excellent in possession, his 2nd goal pure class. He is a tough lad too, gets stuck against much bigger units.

Remember, these are youngsters learning their trade and there are a few useful players amongst our ranks. They learn from these games to build character.

Dave Abrahams
19 Posted 19/08/2026 at 21:08:58

I think it is strange that Braiden Graham hasn't been offered a new contract considering he is in the last year of his present one!

Hopefully another club is not trying to poach him!

Alan McGuffog
20 Posted 19/08/2026 at 21:10:45

Dave,

I've heard he's hopeless at tracking back and as a full-back he has no potential at all. He'll be off.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.

How to get rid of these ads and support TW