Match by Match Reports

28^th November 1968

Second Round – Home to Manchester City

Won 1-0

Scorer – David Johnson

 

Match previews from The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express

 

ITS YOUTH CUP NIGHT

27^th NOVEMBER 1968

Merseyside to-night stages two F.A. Youth Cup second round ties. At Anfield, Liverpool meet Tranmere Rovers in a mini-”Derby” (kick-off 7 o’clock) . At Goodison Park, Everton entertain Manchester City (7:30) Below Echo soccer experts sum up the prospects.

 

EVERTON INCLUDE 3 INTERNATIONALS

27^th NOVEMBER 1968

Three former England boys internationals are included in the group of 14 players from whom Everton will name their team.

They are Les Ormrod, who captained England and Manchester last season, Steve Seargenat and Bill Kenny both of Liverpool.

Kenny and Seargeant played in last season’s youth side, but the majority of the others are boys in their first season as apprentice professionals.

The only player in the party with senior experience is Terry Darracott, who has had two First Division games, the most recent being against Q.P.R. on November 16 when he deputised for the injured Howard Kendall.

Everton reached the semi-final of the Youth Cup last season going out to the eventual winners, Burnley. But they had a more experienced side than the current crop, while players like Whittle, Brindle and Styles, who are now out of the age group.

EVERTON: Williams, (from) Hughes, Ormrod, Brennan; Scott, Humphreys (Ken), Seargeant, Jones (Bryn); Kenny, Johnson, Lyons, Darracott, Jones (Gary), Wilson.

Manchester City will have five of last year’s team available to-night – they were also knocked out of the competition by Burnley. They are Healey, Howell, Towers, Jeffries and Bowyer.

Tony Towers, a Manchester boy, is the captain and was formerly an England international. He has also played for the England youth team.

Ian Bowyer, who comes from Ellesmere Port, played for the League team ten days ago at Newcastle and is a regular member of the Central League side with the other more experienced apprentice professionals.

MANCHESTER CITY: Healey; Howell, Isherwood; Donachie, Curtin, Towers; Denham, Jeffries, Brennan, Coomer, Bowyer. Sub.: Gibbons or Wilson.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express

 

EVERTON THROUGH

27TH NOVEMBER 1968

BY PAUL O’BRIEN

David Johnson, the young Everton inside forward who seems to have more than his fair share of injury problems, ran on to Goodison Park last night determined to score a goal against Manchester City in the F.A. Youth Cup, second round.

Thanks to a superb, defence splitting pass by Terry Darracott, Dave got his goal – and it was sufficient to see Everton into the next round.

The goal came after 34 minutes of the first half, and the Goodison youngsters did enough later on to merit another, but it was not to be.

With the pitch muddy down the middle and rain falling continually, the course of the game was virtually decided before the ball had been kicked.

It was dour and hard, with a little sparkle now and then, thanks mainly to Everton’s lively wingers Bill Kenny and Gary Jones.

Kenny’s play was so clever at times that his co-forwards were not quick enough to make the most of it, while Jones had one particular spell in the second half when the only way City could stop him was by bringing him down.

TIGHTER GRIP

Darracott wearing a No.10 but playing a midfield-defensive role, kept a tight rein on City’s inside right Jeffries, who looked dangerous when he got away, but apart from one or two snap efforts by centre forward Brennan and some hard work in the second half by Bowyer, Everton’s defence did not have a lot of worries.

Tommy Hughes earned praise for his tight marking of Bowyer in the first half, which forced the City winger to switch inside later, while Steve Seargeant gained a tighter grip in the middle as the game progressed.

Young Williams in the Everton goal handled the greasy ball superbly, as did his City counterpart, Healey, while others that took the eye – remembering that they are still 15 or 16 – were Everton left back Les Ormrod and Manchester City’s centre half, Curtin. The City player to really impress me, however, was their left half and skipper, Tony Towers.

 

30^th December 1968

3^rd Round – Home to Preston North End

Won 4-0

Scorers – Gary Jones (2), Bill Kenny, Mick Lyons

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express

 

SENSIBLE EVERTON SINK PRESTON IN YOUTH CUP

30^th DECEMBER 1968

BY PAUL O’BRIEN

Everton wisely forgot the spectacular and relied on sensible and safe football to see them to a 4-0 victory against Preston, in the F.A. Youth Cup, third round, at Goodison Park.

On a hard but playable pitch on which the bounce of the ball frequently unpredictable. Everton took nearly half an hour to get a grip on the game. But once they took command there was never any danger of the initiative being taken from them.

Preston, prompted tirelessly by their right half and captain, Barry Bradshaw, looked good at times in midfield, but with the exception of centre forward Alan Tinsley their attack did not have the strength to carry the moves through.

In fact, the visitors got only two real cracks at the Everton goal – through Tinsley and Bradshaw – and both efforts were saved by goalkeeper Keith Williams.

Everton’s back four, Tommy Hughes, Steve Seargeant, Bryn Jones and and Les Ormrod showed good understanding. Seargeant, who completely blotted out Tinsley in the second half, was probably the man of the match, while Hughes and Jones were always quick to cover any gap.

BAFFLED

After Hughes and Williams conceded two corners in quick succession to keep out Tinsley, Everton broke from defence to take the lead after 27 minutes.

A long through pass from inside left Terry Darracott baffled the Preston defence, with the result that outside right Bill Kenny eventually found himself with the task of slipping the back into an empty net.

After his display in the last round against Manchester City, Goodison fans were looking for something special from outside left Gary Jones, and they were not disappointed.

Four minutes before half time, he collected the ball just inside the Preston half and set off for goal. A neat body swerve took him between defenders Murray and Bradshaw and he sped into the penalty area before making a shot which Farrar, the Preston goalkeeper did well to get a hand to but not stop.

CAUTIOUS

Everton, knowing that one mistake could put Preston back in the game, played cautiously for the first part of the second half, but after 67 minutes centre forward Mick Lyons sent right half Peter Scott away down the right wing, and the former Kirkby schoolboy placed the ball perfectly on the head of Gary Jones who made no mistake.

Three minutes later, Lyons deflected a long shot from Scott past Farrar for Everton’s fourth.

Inside right David Johnson was twice unfortunate not to score after working himself into good positions, but the forward honours were shared by Gary Jones – a player of some promise – and Kenny, who in between his lively raids down the right often dropped back to give a hand in defence.

Referee Capey, of Crewe, who controlled the game firmly, but with the minimum of fuss, made the right decision when he allowed the match to be played.

There have been more entertaining games but on reflection I think Everton fans will compliment their side on a job well done.

 

28^th January 1969

Fourth Round – Away at Huddersfield Town

Drew 1-1

Scorer – Mick Lyons

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express

 

28^th January 1969

The Everton youth team will be unchanged for their fourth round F.A. Youth Cup at Huddersfield tonight. This is the team that has beaten Manchester City and Preston North End without conceding a goal so far in this competition.

The party of 15 travelled to Huddersfield this afternoon but team selection seems certain.

EVERTON YOUTH: Williams; Hughes, Ormrod; Scott, Seargeant, Jones (B.); Kenny, Johnson, Lyons, Darracott, Jones (G.) Substitute (from) Moran, Crampton, Smith, Wilson.

 

The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express

 

AND IN THE YOUTH CUP …… EVERTON EARN A REPLAY

29^th JANUARY 1969

BY PAUL O’BRIEN

Everton youngsters played it strictly to the book to earn a replay as they drew 1-1 at Huddersfield last night in the fourth round of the F.A. Youth Cup.

Skipper Terry Darracott and his eager young charges gambled on a defensive policy in the first half and then struck out in a highly professional fashion after the break to come within an ace of snatching victory.

First half hero was centre half Steve Seargeant who held the rear-guard together in commanding fashion when it came under pressure from Huddersfield’s lively raiders.

Biggest danger to Everton stemmed from the wings where Alan Jones and Graham Mowbray were in top form. One cross from Jones stuck between Williams knees, a rasping drive went inches too wide and a Mowbray shot fired as he cut in from the left was headed off the line by Les Ormrod.

QUICK REWARD

Little was seen of Everton’s attack apart from the lone chasing of centre forward Mike Lyons the speculative shooting of Dave Johnson and the occasional bursts of trickery from wingers Bill Kenny and Gary Jones.

But things changed in the second half, Peter Scott and Darracott assumed greater control in midfield and Huddersfield found that it was their turn to have their backs to the wall.

Everton might have won quick reward when Kenny sent Lyons through but the centre forward was bundled off the ball. But after 73 minutes the same combination worked with Lyons making no mistake from 10 yards.

Huddersfield summoned up all their remaining energy to stage a grandstand finish. And only seven minutes later their equalised through inside forward Dave Smith.

But still Everton might have won – Johnson clean through with only the goalkeeper to beat screwed his shot wide.

 

No date has been arranged yet for the replay of the F.A. Youth Cup after last night’s 1-1 draw at Huddersfield.

This was delayed in the first place because Huddersfield had a replay against Oldham in the third round, and time is getting short before the final completion date for the fourth round.

 

31^st January 1969

Fourth Round Replay – Home to Huddersfield Town

Won 3-2

Scorers – Gary Jones (2), David Johnson

 

Match preview from the Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON ALL FIT FOR YOUTH REPLAY

30^th JANUARY 1969

BY MIKE CHARTERS

Everton’s youth team looks like being unchanged for their fourth round F.A Youth Cup replay against Hudderfield Town at Goodison Park to-morrow (7:30).

All the players came through the game at Huddersfield on Tuesday without injury, but a pool of players will be named to-morrow from whom the team will be selected.

Both clubs were anxious to arrange the replay as soon as possible because they have gone beyond the F.A. schedule for the competition of the fourth round. This was due to Huddersfield having a replay in the previous round against Oldham.

In addition, Everton did not want to stage a match at Goodison next week in order to give the ground staff ample time to prepare the pitch for the F.A. Cup-tie against Bristol Rovers on February 8.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

GARY JONES WAS EVERTON STAR

1^st FEBRUARY 1969

BY PAUL O’BRIEN

A big cheer for the worthy winners – and an equally big cheer for the gallant and skilful losers.

That’s how the F.A. Youth Cup fifth round replay at Goodison Park last night between Everton and Huddersfield Town ended, with the score 3-2 in Everton’s favour.

It can’t be easy to play attractive football on the wet and well-sanded Goodison pitch, but, like Wolves earlier in the week – these two sides gave all they had got for 90 minutes.

There were times in the first half when Everton annoyed some of the crowd through their mistakes, but by the final whistle all that was forgotten and even the referee and linesmen joined in the applause as the sides left the field.

There was little doubt from Huddersfield’s defensive pattern that they had picked out Everton’s outside left, Gary Jones, as the danger man – and how right they were.

Gary had a red-shirted defender within a couple of yards of him all night and lesser players might have been upset by this, but he kept his head so well that he was able to score two of Everton’s goals - then lay on the decider for David Johnson.

LIVELY LEADER

Heaume, in the Huddersfield goal, made superb saves from Gary Jones, Scott and Kenny, buy late in the game the Everton outside right sent in a fierce shot which appeared to rebound from the back of the net. The referee decided it had hit the woodwork.

Mick Lyons was a lively leader of the Everton attack, with Bryn Jones doing best in defence.

Centre forward Mahoney and inside left Fisher got the goals for a Huddersfield side which played attractive football, particularly in the first half.

Finally I applaud the refereeing of Mr. Kirkpatrick, of Leicester, a man who could outpace even the famous Mr. Fussey.

 

3^rd March 1969

Fifth Round – Away at Manchester United

Drew 0-0

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

YOUTH CUP DRAW

3^rd MARCH 1969

Draw for the semi-finals of the F.A. Youth Cup is: Chelsea or West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United v Everton, Sunderland v Bournemouth.

Matches to be completed on a Home and Away basis by Saturday, March 29.

Everton visit Old Trafford in their quarter-final to-night (kick-off 7:30).

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

ALERT GOALKEEPING SAVED EVERTON IN YOUTH TIE

3RD APRIL 1969

BY PAUL O’BRIEN

After the excitement of the previous week there was something of an anti-climax at Old Trafford last night where Manchester United and Everton fought a goalless draw in the quarter-final of the F.A. Youth Cup.

Neither side mastered the light ball and the tricky breeze, with the result that although there was a great deal of effort, not very much good football accompanied it.

Everton centre-forward Mick Lyons, laying back and leaving inside-right David Johnson to occupy the mind of United’s centre-half Goodeve, went close several times to snatching victory for the Goodison boys, but far more of the action was at the other end.

Several Everton defenders have to thank the alert goalkeeping of Keith Williams for covering up their mistakes. But the goalkeeper himself was probably pleased to see Tommy Hughes and Steve Seargeant doing so well in front of him.

Both sides looked short of match practice and a higher standard is expected when they meet again at Goodison Park. Certainly Everton will have to watch clever inside-left O’Sullivan and driving wing-halves O’Neil and Young, but they must also find a way of giving their own forwards, especially left-winger Gary Jones a better service.

Just over 8,000 watched the game but I feel that Everton fans will manage to top this figure at the replay.

 

12^th March 1969

5^th Round Replay – Home to Manchester United

Lost 1-3

Scorer – David Johnson

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

TACTICAL SWITCH WINS IT FOR UNITED

13^th MARCH 1969

BY PAUL O’BRIEN

A successful tactical switch by Manchester United midway through the second half of the quarter-final replay at Goodison Park last night ended Everton’s F.A. Youth Cup hopes for this season.

United were then trailing 1-0 to a goal scored by Everton inside right, Dave Johnson after 53 minutes, but they levelled he scores and then went on to get two more in the first period of extra time to win 3-1.

In the United switch, outside right Bernard Daniels and inside left Peter O’Sullivan changed places and this, coupled with the substitution of Tony Young after 66 minutes for inside right Ivan McMurdo, brought out the best in their attack.

At 78 minutes, Daniels cut through a hesitant Everton defence in superb style, before running on to a return pass from Young to score a fine goal.

In the fifth minute of extra time, it was O’Sullivan who crossed the ball from the right to enable centre forward Jimmy Hall to head the second, and six minutes later left winger Damien Ferguson sent Daniels through to put the issue beyond doubt.

On a heavy pitch, with snow and sleet falling throughout, both sides did well to provide so much entertainment for the 2,940 spectators.

It was a hard game, with more than the average number of free kicks, and the names of United right back Laurie Millerchip, and Everton’s outside right Gary Jones, appeared to go into referee Dennis Corbett’s book.

Had Everton managed to produce a second goal during the only period that they really took command – at the start of the second half – then it would be they who were going forward to the semi-final, but in the end United, who had more skill in midfield and attack, deserved their success.

Both defences played well considering the difficulties, with the centre halves, Steve Seargeant (Everton) and Ken Goodeve (United) impressing.

But with Gary Jones appearing to feel the effect of some rough treatment early in the game, centre forward Mick Lyons being tightly marked by Goodeve, and outside right Bill Kenny never finding his touch – substitute Alan Wilson replaced him in the second half of extra time – Everton lacked that skill and enterprise in attack which decided the game in United’s favour.