Match by Match Reports

29^th November 1972

2^nd Round – Away at Tranmere Rovers

Won 3-2

Scorers – David Threlfall, Cliff Marshall, George Telfer

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

ALL SET FOR YOUTH CLASH

29^th NOVEMBER 1972

BY KEN ROGERS

The Tranmere Rovers Youth team face their toughest test of the season at Prenton Park to-night (7:30) when they entertain Everton Youth in the second round of the F.A. Youth Cup.

Liverpool Youth went out to Coventry at Anfield last night and so to-night’s mini-derby ensures that at least one Merseyside team will progress to the next round.

The Birkenhead boys have already proved this season that they can rise to the occasion.

They recently extended a powerful Manchester United Youth side in a County F.A. Professional youth tie, forcing a replay at Old Trafford and fighting bravely at Prenton before going down 4-2.

Certainly it will be no push-over for Everton who are past winners of this trophy. Five of the Tranmere team, Maddocks, Stubbs, Hayes, Norman and Wooden have been named in a Cheshire F.A. squad of 15 who face Manchester in the F.A. County Youth Cup on Saturday. No doubt these lads will be aiming to impress against Everton.

Rovers have only one doubt, at full-back, where Thornborough will come in for Osborne if he fails a late fitness test.

TRANMERE YOUTH: Butterworth; Osborne or Thornborough, Stubbs; Norman, Maddocks, Charalambous; Leyland, Seasman, Tynan, Hayes, Woodin.

EVERTON YOUTH: Jakeman; Threlfall, Smith; McNaught, Nevin, Hogan; Parle, Tobin, Marshall, Telfer, McNichol. Substitute: Courtney.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES HAVE TO FIGHT ALL THE WAY

30^th NOVEMBER 1972

BY KEN ROGERS

They say that cup-ties produce the surprises …… that reputations count for nothing in the sudden death of a knock out competition.

And this was certainly the case for 68 minutes of last night’s second round F.A. Youth Cup clash at Prenton Park when Tranmere Rovers played Everton.

The home side had rocked the Goodison outfit with two fine goals which looked good enough to secure them a place in the next round.

But Everton picked themselves up off the floor and battled their way into the third round with three fine goals in a remarkable 12-minute spell midway through the second half.

This dramatic change in fortune had the crowd on their feet and they were treated to a rousing finale in which Rovers were denied an equaliser on the stroke of time when full-back Steve Osborne swept down the right and sent over a dipping shot which hit the bar.

Everton dominated the early stages with Everton centre forward George Telfer looking a constant danger. Twice he fought his way into useful shooting positions but the finishing never match the build-up.

Rovers settled after this early spell of Everton pressure and after 26 minutes they took the lead. Dave Hayes found himself with space in the box and he slammed his shot past advancing keeper Jakeman.

And three minutes after the re-start, Rovers’ centre-forward Bobby Tynan split open the Everton defence to increase Tranmere’s lead. He rounded centre-half McNaught and unleashed a fine shot from 20 yards which gave Jakeman no chance.

The result seemed cut and dried with Rovers looking cool and composed. But suddenly Everton opened up.

For once the ball ran kindly for them in the 68^th minute and they were back in the game. McNichol sent over a cross which Butterworth failed to hold and Threlfall nipped in to head home.

Three minutes later, Everton were level with winger Cliff Marshall cashing in on a mix-up in the Rovers’ defence.

In minutes the whole pattern of the game had changed. Everton senses that victory was there for the taking and centre-forward Telfer end Rovers’ dreams of victory with a first-class winner in the 80^th minute.

It was a pity there had to be a loser in this evenly matched battle. Both sides can congratulate themselves on producing a game full of thrills and excitement for the enthusiastic crowd.

TRANMERE ROVERS: Butterworth; Osborne, Stubbs; Norman, Maddocks, Charalambous; Leyland, Siesman, Tynan, Hayes, Woodin. Sub.: Shwenn.

EVERTON: Jakeman; Threlfall, Nevin; Smith, McNaught, Parle; Marshall, Hogan, Telfer, Tobin, McNichol. Sub.: Courtney.

 

9^th January 1973

3^rd Round – Away at Hull City

Won 2-0

Scorer – Cliff Marshall (2)

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

MARSHALL DOUBLE ACT BOOSTS YOUNG BLUES

10^th JANUARY 1973

Two brilliantly struck second half goals from Cliff Marshall, the ex-England schoolboy striker, earned Everton an F.A. Youth Cup 4^th round home tie against Bristol City.

At Boothferry Park, Hull, last night, Marshall’s powerful shots ended a defensive deadlock in the 65^th and 80^th minutes.

His first goal was well set up by George Telfer who worked round the Hull defence and his pinpoint centre was perfectly met by Marshall to hammer into the back of the net.

Marshall’s second goal had more than a hint of offside about it, but he confidently strode goalwards and rocketed the ball home from the edge of the area.

Hull felt they had been somewhat robbed by the result for they had slightly more goal front chances, but the home side’s attack, well lead by Jeff Hemmerman, were lacking the finishing touches.

Ken McNaught and Bob Smith were in dominant form for Everton’s defence with keeper Garry Jakeman pulling off some fine saves, but the visitor’s attack took a long time to settle – until Marshall’s fine goals.

Don Tobin was a hardworking midfield man for Everton.

EVERTON YOUTH: Jakeman; Threlfall, Nevin; Smith, McNaught, Parle; Marshall, Hogan, Telfer, Tobin, McNichol. Sub.: Kenny.

HULL CITY YOUTH: Gray; Daniels, Roe; Jessey, Hoult, Connolly; Staniforth, Carline, Hemmerman, Setlers, Tutill. Sub.: Wharf.

Referee: Mr. L. Hayes (Doncaster)

 

29^th January 1973

4^th Round – Home to Bristol City

Lost 0-1

 

Match Arrangement from the Liverpool Echo

 

SET FOR YOUTH CLASH

13^th JANUARY 1973

Everton are hoping to make more progress in the F.A. Youth Cup when they meet Bristol City at Goodison on the fourth round. Having disposed of Tranmere Rovers and Hull City in two away ties so far.

The F.A. have ordered that the ties must be completed within the next fortnight, but so far Everton and Bristol City have not agreed on a suitable date.

I doubt if it will be held next week because Goodison already stages a reserve game on Tuesday night. The most likely date seems to be a week later, on January 23^.

 

Youth team review from the Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES JRS. CAN AFFORD TO WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR

27^th JANUARY 1973

Everton hope to take another big step along the road to the F.A. Youth Cup when they tackle the young hopefuls of Bristol City at Goodison on Monday night in the fourth round of the competition.

It is eight years since Everton won this Cup for the only time in their history. They beat Arsenal 3-2 in the final of 1965.

No one at the club is predicting another triumph like that, particularly the two men most involved in the development of the young talent – Youth Development Officer Ray Minshull and coach Eric Robinson.

I believe they are more optimistic about next year’s chances because the majority of the current team will be eligible then. There are only two full-time professionals in the team – striker George Telfer and centre half Ken McNaught – and the rest are still apprentices.

So the men behind the team feel next year could be the big one. They regard the progress in this season’s competition as vital preparation to give the lads the necessary experience against older boys.

The team has been unchanged in their two away wins in the second and third rounds. If they come through today’s Lancashire League games without injury it will be probable that they will be on duty again on Monday.

If so the line-up will be :- Jakeman; Threlfall, Nevin; Smith, McNaught, Parle; Marshall, Hogan, Telfer, Tobin, McNichol.

Manager Harry Catterick rarely picks one out of the pack for special mention, believing that at this stage of their developing years it is better to waiut for potential to grow into fact.

But in talking about the pleasure the youth team’s progress has given him this year, he did refer to left back Ridley Nevin, who joined the club from school in Hexham, Northumberland. He played for Northumberland Boys.

He told me: “This boy has the bearing of a true footballer. He moves around the field like a seasoned campaigner. He really looks the part.

“All being well, he should develop into a top class defender and I think the spectators at Goodison on Monday night will see his quality if he plays as well as I’ve seen him this season.”

 

Match preview from the Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON HIT BY INJURIES

29^th JANUARY 1973

Everton had three key players injured to-day as the countdown began for Saturday’s fourth-round F.A. Cup tie with Second Division Millwall.

Rod Belfitt, Tommy Wright and Roger Kenyon all received ankle injuries during Saturday’s match with Leicester.

Said manager Harry Catterick “it’s too early at this stage to say how serious the injuries are but, naturally, we are hoping all three will be available for Saturday.”

Meanwhile Everton’s youth team faces the experienced youngsters of Bristol City at Goodison Park to-night in the fourth round of the F.A. Youth Cup.

FIRST YEAR
Most of the Everton youngsters are in their first year as apprentices and are only 17 – which will make them eligible for next year’s competition as well.

Mr. Catterick appealed to Evertonians to turn out to-night to cheer the youngsters. “I Hope we shall get a good turn-out to encourage these lads to-night.” he said.

“They are a young side and have done remarkably well in two tough away games. Unfortunately the pitch looks like being against them in that it’s sure to be very heavy. Nevertheless, the lads are confident of getting a good result.”

There is a big incentive for the Everton lads to win to-night for the fifth round draw made to-day the winners of to-night’s match were paired at home with either Manchester United or Arsenal.

EVERTON: Jakeman; Threlfall, Nevin; Smith, McNaught, Parle; Marshall, Hogan, Telfer, Tobin, McNichol.

 

Match report from the Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON YOUTH GET CUP K.O.

30^th JANUARY 1973

BY JIM MANSELL

The curse of the full-back hit Merseyside’s Youth Cup hopes again last night.

Last season Aston Villa’s right back John Gidman scored a penalty in the first leg of the final which helped to put Liverpool in the runners-up position.

And last night at Goodison, Everton’s chance of an attractive quarter-final home tie against Manchester United or Arsenal were dashed by another right back.

This time it was Martin Rogers of Bristol City who scored a fine goal to send the young Blues tumbling at the fourth round stage.

It was a far from impressive performance by Everton whose rhythm faltered after a bright start.

The defeat is bound to have disappointed manager Harry Catterick who was in the stand to see his players.

They certainly tried hard but ineffectively after the interval but could not pull back from that Rogers set-back in the 32nd minute.

Though Mr. Catterick stated recently that he felt his youth set-up under Ray Minshull and Eric Harrison was stronger than at any time he had been in charge at Goodison, only in the first 30 minutes did his young players look capable of progressing in this Youth Cup.

Twin strikers George Telfer and Cliff Marshall, battling hard on a “dead” heavy pitch, looked sharp in that early period and threatened to tear apart the Bristol defence. But where Everton fell down was their lack of bite in midfield where the small trio of Tobin, Parle and Hogan were out jumped and outfought by their taller, tougher Bristol counterparts, Collier and Brown.

Bristol had shown that they could fit together neat moves and it was one of those which upset the Everton applecart.

Rogers moved down the right flank, passed inside to Prue, took the return in his stride and shot from a narrow angle into the far corner past the advancing Jakeman for a calmly taken goal.

WASTED

This settled Bristol, who began to show Everton just how much they would make them fight for victory.

And after the interval, even the threat of Telfer faded as Bristol played it tighter at the back and Everton lost their hope of a fight-back with too many wasted passes and poor control.

Both sides had their chances, but Rogers covered himself in glory again in the final seconds when he stopped a shot on the goal-line from McNichol and the ball was eventually scrambled clear.

So another disappointment for Everton. Mr. Catterick must be hoping that it’s the only team from a Second Division club which wins at Goodison this week!

EVERTON: Jakeman; Threlfall, Nevin; Smith, McNaught, Tobin, Parle, Hogan, Marshall, McNichol. Sub.: Kenny.

BRISTOL CITY: Wardle; Rogers, Milne, Collier, Harding, Crowley, McNeill, Brown, Lee, Prue, Fear. Sub.: Munro.