Match by Match Reports

6^th December 1976

2^nd Round – Away at Tranmere Rovers

Won 6-1

Scorers – Brian Monaghan (3), Ross Jack, Martin Murray, Joe McBride

 

Match Announcement in the Liverpool Echo 6^th December 1976

 

Tranmere’s youth team meet Everton tonight (7:30) in the second round of the F.A. Youth Cup at Prenton Park. Unless ground conditions deteriorate dramatically, the match will take place on schedule.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON IN YOUTH CUP ROMP

7^th DECEMBER 1976

It way one-way traffic in the Prenton Park mud last night as Everton romped into the third round of the F.A. Youth Cup with a 6-1 victory over Tranmere.

Rovers fought spiritedly

but could never really match their Merseyside rivals. Brian Monaghan scored three Everton goals in the third, 27 and 71 minutes and others came from Joe McBride, in 52 mins, Martin Murray (76 mins) and Ross Jack (80 mins).

Milne headed a consolation goal for Tranmere who finished with ten men after losing Colin Lewis and John Kerr both injured.

 

11^th January 1977

3^rd Round – Home to Nottingham Forest

Won 3-1

Scores – Brian Monaghan (2), Ross Jack

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON YOUTH GO THROUGH

12^th JANUARY 1977

A great last minute save by young Banner, Everton’s No. 3 goalkeeper, when he dived full length to stop a penalty, followed by another save from a point blank shot enabled Everton to avoid having to visit Nottingham Forest in a replay of round 3 of the F.A. Youth Cup.

Instead Everton went through the the fourth round with a comfortable 3-1 victory, thanks to two well taken goals by Monaghan.

The first came after 13 minutes following a mistake and the second at 77 minutes when Monaghan got his head to a free kick from Russell. In between Forest got on terms when Milne attempted to clear, slipped and put the ball into his own net.

Jack scored goal number three for Everton from a right wing pass, but Forest refused to give up.

 

8^th February 1977

4^th Round – Away at Oldham Athletic

Won 4-3

Scorers - Brian Monaghan, Mark Higgins, Martin Murray, Joe McBride

 

Match report from the Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES MADE TO FIGHT

9^th FEBRUARY 1977

Three first half goals put Everton well on the way to a place in the FA Youth Cup quarter finals at Oldham last night – but Oldham staged a spirited second half fight-back and made the blues fight all the way for their 4-3 win.

Monaghan put Everton ahead with a cool lob in the first minute and then Higgins and Murray added further goals.

Oldham stuck to their task, however, and Jordan put them back in the game after 53 minutes and 10 minutes from the end, Taylor scored from a free kick to make it 3-2.

McBride ended the panic with a fourth goal two minutes from time although Jordan scored again for Oldham in the last minute.

Everton players, Heard and Murray, were booked in the second half.

 

8^th March 1977

5^th Round – Home to Middlesbrough

Won 3-0

Scorers – Ross Jack (2), Martin Murray

 

Match report in the Liverpool Echo

 

….Meanwhile Everton must wait until Monday before they know their opponents in the semi-final of the F.A. Youth Cup.

Ross Jack (2) and Martin Murray hit the goals in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Middlesbrough at Goodison Park to put Everton into the last four.

The draw will be made on Monday but there are still fifth round matches outstanding and Liverpool have to play Hereford in a fourth round replay. This is scheduled for Hereford on Monday and the winners travel to play Spurs.

 

4^th April 1977

Semi-Final - 1^st Leg – Away at Derby County

Won 2-0

Scorers – Mike Coffey, Joe McBride

 

Match Preview from the Liverpool Echo

 

Everton’s youngsters are in action to-night in the first leg of the F.A. Youth Cup semi-final against Derby County at the Baseball Ground. The return match is at Goodison Park on Saturday and the winners meet either Spurs or Crystal Palace in the final.

EVERTON (from): Banner; Russell, Milne, Higgins, Deakin, Murray, Lamont, Coffey, Monaghan, Jack, McBride, Heard, Stenson.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON AHEAD

5^th APRIL 1977

Everton’s youth team goes into the second leg of the F.A. Youth Cup semi-final at Goodison Park on Saturday with a handsome two goal advantage after beating Derby 2-0 last night.

It was a gallant victory for Everton, who struggled through the first half during which time they lost Ray Deacon, who was stretchered off with a knee injury.

It was still Derby who were on top until goalkeeper Banner pounced to his right to grab a drive from Corish two minutes after the interval. Then the tables turned and 19 minutes later, Coffey put Everton in front with a neat chip over a defender and the goalkeeper.

Four minutes later, Cherry, the Derby ‘keeper, could only block a fierce cross from Coffey and McBride skidded in to push the ball over the line.

 

9^th April 1977

Semi-Final 2^nd Leg – Home to Derby County

Drew 1-1

Scorer – Billy Russell

 

First Half Match Update from the Liverpool Echo

 

EARLY SHOCK FOR YOUNG BLUES

9^th APRIL 1977

With two goal start, Everton looked fairly safe to reach the final of the F.A. Youth Cup. With about 2,500 to cheer them on Everton looked like increasing their need as they pressed forward.

Coffey got in a shot which went wide and Cherry managed to tip over a McBride centre, for an unproductive corner.

Everton had an escape when Banner just managed to grab the ball before it went over the line.

After 21 minutes the Blues found themselves in arrears when Milne passed back to Banner a little too slowly. Crawford nipped in to score.

Murray and Coffey produced a couple of good centres but they were cut out by K.Faulkner.

A little bit of needle crept in with fouls by both sides.

Half-Time : Everton 0, Derby County 1.

 

OTHER RESULTS

F.A. YOUTH CUP

Semi-Final

Everton 1 Derby County 1

(Everton win 3-1 on aggregate)

 

5^th May 1977

Final 1^st Leg – Home to Crystal Palace

Drew 0-0

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

YOUNG BLUES LOOK FOR LEAD

5^th MAY 1977

Everton will go for goals at Goodison Park to-night in the first leg of the F.A. Youth Cup Final against Crystal Palace – and Martin Murray will be out to add to his total this season. (writes Alex Goodman).

Murray, hailed as a future top-class player when he signed from League of Ireland club Home Farm a couple of seasons ago, has scored four goals in Everton’s march to the final.

And to-night he will again be in his normal midfield position, playing alongside Paul Lamont and Mike Coffey in a 4-3-3 formation against a Palace side who have scored 24 goals in their Youth Cup matches.

Everton’s front three, Ross Jack, Brian Monaghan and Joe McBride have all scored as well in other rounds and youth officer Ray Minshull said: “We want as big a lead as possible to take to Palace. But I’ll be happy if we are just one goal in front at the end of the tow Matches.”

The team will be picked from a 13-strong squad but is expected to be at full strength with Mark Higgins, the only youngster with first team experience, taking his normal position in defence.

The game has a 7:30p.m. kick off and Mr. Minshull said: “We are hoping to get as bigger crowd as possible to support the lads. We don’t even mind Liverpool supporters coming along!”

The second leg of the Final is at Crystal Palace is on May 13.

EVERTON (from): Banner, Russell, Milne, Higgins, Deakin, Heard, Murray, Lamont, Coffey, Jack, Monaghan, McBride, Stenson.

 

Match report from The Daily Mirror

 

PALACE KIDS ARE READY FOR KILL

Everton 0, Crystal Palace 0

6^th MAY 1977

Crystal Palace made themselves firm favourites to win the FA Youth Cup with a battling display at Goodison Park last night.

Everton will face a tough task in the second leg of the final at Selhurst Park next Friday.

Palace, in the final for the first time, and favourites on the strength of an 8-0 trashing of Spurs in the semi-final, created two good openings, but Everton ‘keeper Nick Banner saved well from Ian Walsh and Vince Hilaire.

 

Match report from the Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON MISS THEIR CHANCES

7^th MAY 1977

Everton’s youth team last night probably lost their chance of winning the FA Youth Cup. With home advantage in the first leg, they failed to take their chances early on.

They allowed Palace’s defence to take control in the second half and now face an uphill task when they go to London on May 13 for the second leg.

The blues looked the better side early on and McBride gave Murray an opportunity to put them in the lead, but it went begging and a move by McBride and Jack produced nothing.

Everton found Hilaire a constant threat, and only some quick thinking by Higgins stopped his gallop more than once. Banner also had to be sharp a couple of times, making fine saves from Leahy and a Walsh header that deserved a goal.

Murray, playing deep, did a lot of work but rarely was Palace’s ‘keeper Fry troubled.

Attendance: 4,432.

13^th May 1977

Final 2^nd Leg – Away at Crystal Palace

Lost 0-1

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

LATE GOAL SINKS BLUES

14^th MAY 1977

Everton youth team boss Colin Harvey praised his youngsters despite their 1-0 defeat in the F.A. Youth Cup Final against Crystal Palace, at Selhurst Park, last night.

Everton lost the cup through an 89^th minute goal by Palace full back Terry Fenwick. Earlier, the superb organisation and strength of the Everton side, particularly defenders Mark Higgins, Ray Deakin and Jimmy Milne, had frustrated and subdued all Palace’s efforts.

Harvey said: “The lads were all very upset to lose a minute from the end. And I’m disappointed for them I thought we were the better side and had worn them down. I couldn’t have asked for any more from them, and they did well.”