Match by Match Reports

5^th December 1978

2^nd Round – Home to Liverpool

Won 2-0

Scorers – Paul Lodge, Vin Dobie

 

Match Preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

YOUTH ON PARADE IN GOODISON DERBY

5^th DECEMBER 1978

The young talent of our Big Two clubs meet at Goodison Park to-night (7 p.m.) in the second round of the F.A. Youth Cup – the third such tie in the past four years as the draw continues to throw them together.

Liverpool will field an all-local side with the Everton line-up having being recruited from far and wide.

Several youth internationals will be on parade, including Liverpool’s Harper and Russell, Everton’s McBride and Lodge.

EVERTON YOUTH: Hanson; Borrows, Coulson; Ratcliffe, Fazakerley, Kelly; Lodge, McMahon, Barton, Lewis, McBride. Sub.: Dobie.

LIVERPOOL YOUTH: Turner; Laski, Watson, Harper, Hughes; Russell, Halsall, Cornu; Carter, Brown, Foley. Sub.: Lee.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES’ YOUTH STORM ON

6^th DECEMBER 1979

Everton’s run of success, which has already put them within sight of the Football League championship, extended down to youth level last night, when their youngsters emulated the first team’s performance in beating Liverpool at Goodison Park, 2-0 this time.

Liverpool, largely composed of local-boys, could not be faulted for effort and determination, but Everton’s more cosmopolitan combination provided the finer touches and deserved their victory.

Lodge scored the opening goal after 19 minutes, following a cross from McMahon on the left, and they kept their lead until the interval though on one occasion Coulson had to kick a Hughes header off the line.

In the second half Everton brought on Dobie for Kelly, and the move brought immediate rewards, for the newcomer promptly volleyed home an accurate cross from McBride to decide the issue.

Typically, Liverpool refused to admit defeat and Hughes almost scored in the dying minutes, but in fact Everton came even closer, for Dobie hit the bar with the defence nowhere and Fazakerley missed an open goal.

The intensity of play, watched by a crowd of about 1,800 was such that three players McBride and McMahon of Everton and Brown of Liverpool were booked for over-vigorous tackles, but it was never a dirty game.

 

10^th January 1979

3^rd Round – Away at Hereford United

Won 3-0

Scorers – Steve McMahon (2), Vin Dobie

 

No match report in the Liverpool Echo

 

8^th March 1979

4^th Round – Away to Bristol Rovers

Drew 2-2

Scorers – Steve McMahon, Joe McBride

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

BOOST FOR YOUTH TEAM

8^th MARCH 1979

Everton go into tonight’s F.A. Youth Cup fourth round tie against Bristol Rovers at Eastville boosted by the return to fitness of two players who missed the last round, writes Charles Lambert.

Mark Tansey – nephew of the former Everton stalwart Jimmy Tansey – has recovered from a cartilage operation and comes back at full-back, while striker Karl Green is also fit after injury and will be contest a place in the front line with Gordon Taylor.

The winners will play Derby or Coventry in the next round.

EVERTON: Hason; Tansey, Burrows; Lodge, Ratcliffe, McMahon; D.Barton, Gardner, Dobie, Taylor or Green, McBride.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

YOUNG BLUES EARN REPLAY

9^th MARCH 1979

An 88^th minute equaliser from Joe McBride earned Everton a 2-2 draw at Bristol Rovers in the FA Youth Cup fourth round last night.

The overall standard of play was high, considering the miserable conditions caused by heavy rain.

Vincent Dobie found it hard against the tight Rovers defence and was substituted in the second half by Gordon Taylor.

McMahon scored for Everton after only two minutes with a 20-yard drive before Shaw equalised in the 20^th.

After the interval Petts gave Rovers the lead (52 minutes).

 

12^th March 1979

4^th Round Replay – Home to Bristol Rovers

Drew 1-1

Scorer – Joe McBride

 

Match Preview from The Liverpool Echo - 10^th March 1979

 

Everton play their FA Youth Cup replay against Bristol Rovers at Goodison Park on Monday (7 p.m.)

This follows their 2-2 draw at Eastville on Thursday night, a result that sent the Everton squad home in high spirits.

“There was a very strong wind blowing, which was a problem, and I was pleased with the lads” said coach Colin Harvey. “We played some good football at times but we still have a job on our hands in the replay.”

Steve McMahon took advantage of the wind to score Everton’s first goal from long range, but the Blues were trailing 2-1 until two minutes from the end when Joe McBride nipped in the snatch up the equaliser.

 

No Match report in the Liverpool Echo

 

15^th March 1979

4^th Round 2^nd Replay

Won 4-1

Scorers – Brian Borrows, Steve McMahon (2), Dean Kelly

 

Match preview from the Liverpool Echo - 15^th March 1979

 

Everton’s youth team will remain unchanged for tonight’s F.A. Youth Cup fourth round second replay against Bristol Rovers at Eastville. Bristol have a doubt about midfield man Geraint Williams, who has a knee injury, but also hope to be unchanged.

Both teams turned on some good football in drawing 1-1 at Goodison on Monday, following a 2-2 draw at Eastville a week ago.

EVERTON YOUTH: Hanson; Tansey, Borrows; Lodge, Ratcliffe, McMahon; Barton, Gardner, Taylor, Green, McBride. Sub.: Dobie.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo - 16^th March 1979

 

Everton’s youngsters last night chalked up an impressive 4-1 victory at Bristol Rovers, in the F.A. Youth Cup fourth round second replay.

They now play the winners of Monday’s Coventry v Derby replay in the quarter-finals.

 

5^th April 1979

5^th Round – Away at Coventry City

Won 6-1

Scorers - Gordon Taylor (2), Steve McMahon, Joe McBride, Kevin Ratcliffe, Dean Kelly

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

JOHN’S VITAL ROLE IN YOUTH CLASH

5^th APRIL 1979

John McKenna, an amateur goalkeeper with only a handful of “B” team games behind him, will be Everton’s last line of defence in tonight’s F.A. Youth Cup quarter-final against Coventry City at Highfield Road, writes Charles Lambert.

McKenna takes over Everton’s problem position following the departure of the two “too-small” goalkeepers, George Tulloch and Mark Hanson.

McKenna for Hanson is the only change from the team that beat Bristol Rovers 4-1 in a second replay to reach this stage of the competition. Former Endland schoolboy international Dean Kelly continues as substitute.

Four of the Everton team – Steve McMahon, Kevin Ratcliffe, Paul Lodge and Joe McBride – were in the reserve side that lost 3-1 at Coventry on Saturday, so they will be aiming for better things to-night.

Coach Colin Harvey saw Coventry beat Derby 2-1, to reach the last eight, and said: “They looked a good footballing side, so it should be a fair game.”

EVERTON: McKenna; Tansey, Burrows; Lodge, Ratcliffe, McMahon; Barton, Gardner, Taylor, Green, McBride. Sub.: Kelly.

 

Match Report from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON GOAL RUSH

6^th APRIL 1979

Everton’s abundance of talent and the know-how of putting it to great use swamped Coventry, 6-1 in last night’s quarter final of the F.A. Youth Cup.

Everton deserved this magnificent victory and surprised the 1,500 crowd with the wealth of young players on view. They really showed Coventry up, and some fine goals were seen, particularly Everton’s fifth in the game, at 80 minutes, from Kevin Ratcliffe, who ran virtually the length of the pitch to score.

Goalscorers: Taylor (2), English (Coverntry), McBride, McMahon, Ratcliffe and Kelly.

EVERTON IN SEMI-FINAL

6^th APRIL 1979

Everton will play Millwall in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup, with the first leg at Goodison Park (writes Charles Lambert).

After their 6-1 triumph over Coventry anf Highfield Road last night, Everton learned that Millwall had pulled off a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The other semi-final is between Charlton and either Southampton or Manchester City.

 

11^th April 1979

Semi-Final 1^st Leg – Home to Millwall

Drew 0-0

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

YOUTH TEAM GO FOR GLORY

11^th APRIL 1979

Everton have retained their goal happy six-shooters from the quarter-final for to-night’s FA Youth Cup semi-final first leg against Millwall at Goodison (7 p.m.) writes Charles Lambert.

Following that 6-1 win at Coventry in the last round, the same side will have the task of gaining a lead to take to the Den for the second leg in two weeks’ time.

There is a strong emphasis on local talent in this Everton team, with nine of the 12 hailing from Liverpool or the immediate area, and the only two outsiders being Scottish strikers Joe McBride and Gordon Taylor.

“After our results so far out lads must be quietly confident,” said Everton’s youth chief, Ray Minshull. “But there is no way they will be allowed to become over-confident. The win at Coventry is over and done with, and this is going to be a tough game.”

Millwall’s team include two players with first team experience – midfielder David Mehmet and left-winger Kevin O’Callaghan.

They have reached the last four by beating Slough at home 3-0, Norwich at home 3-0 and Sunderland at home 2-1. In the quarter final they drew 3-3 with Nottingham Forest at home, and won the replay 1-0 with a goal from a corner.

Said Mr. Minshull: “In view of their tremendous home record in the competition, we’ve got to make certain we get a lead tonight.

“But most of all I’m hoping that the boys play to their potential. It’s not going to be win at all costs – we want to prove to people that we can play good football.”

EVERTON: McKenna; Tansey, Borrows; Lodge, Ratcliffe, McMahon; Barton, Gardner, Taylor, Green, McBride. Sub.: Kelly.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

UPHILL TASK FOR BLUES

12^th APRIL 1979

Everton face a hard task to qualify for the FA Youth Cup Final after last night’s goalless first leg of the semi-final against Millwall at Goodison, writes Charles Lambert.

In a disappointing match Everton never got their game together, and rarely looked like finding a way through a determined Millwall defence.

“We were hoping to establish a lead, but I am still confident that we will reach the final,” said youth development officer, Ray Minshull. “It’s as if we have been drawn to play a tie away from home, and we have already beaten three teams on their own grounds in previous rounds. My money is still on Everton.”

Despite a couple of useful runs by Gordon Taylor it was Millwall who went closest to scoring in the first half. That was after 30 minutes’ play, when McKenna, the Millwall centre-forward, had a shot parried by John McKenna in the home goal and Phil Gardner denied Dibble on the goal-line with a superb sliding tackle.

Everton looked better organised after the interval, and Dave Barton emerged as their best bet for a breakthrough with a series of thrusting runs from midfield.

He was the victim of some heavy tackling by the Millwall defence, and one foul in the 63^rd minute earned Massey a booking. There were four other bookings – Paul Lodge and Martin for throwing punches at each other, Joe McBride for dissent, and Roberts for a foul.

McBride drove two free-kicks over the bar, but the Londoners finished strongly with Gale and Dibble breaking through for shots that were just off target.

EVERTON (4-3-3): McKenna; Tansey, Lodge, Ratcliffe, Borrows; Gardner, Barton, McMahon; Green (Kelly 65), Taylor, McBride.

MILLWALL (4-3-3): Gleasure; Martin, Roberts, Coleman, Kinsella; Dibble, Mehmet, Massey; McKenna, Gale, O’Callaghan. Sub: Hockley.

Referee: Mr. A. Seville (Birmingham).

Attendance: 2,100.

 

25^th April 1979

Semi-Final 2^nd Leg – Away at Millwall

Lost 0-2

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES GO LION HUNTING!

25^th APRIL 1979

Everton tonight brave the lions in their Den – and hope to emerge unscathed, with a place in the final of the FA Youth Cup.

For the second leg of their semi-final against Millwall, Everton will rely on the same team that played out a goalless draw at Goodison a fortnight ago.

Centre-forward Vin Dobie, who has missed the last four Youth Cup matches but scored on his Central League debut recently, is out of contention with a knee injury.

So the line-up will be the same that played in the previous two games, with Dean Kelly again the substitute.

Despite Everton’s failure to gain a led in the home leg, youth development officer, Ray Minshull is is confident that they can still reach the final.

“We are treating it as an away draw in an ordinary round – and having wwon away at Hereford, Bristol Rovers and Coventry we believe we can do it again.” he said.

“We know we are in for a fight. We expect Millwall to try and throw us out of our stride, and we know they have a very good home record. But we are looking forward to it.”

The other semi-final, between Manchester City and Southampton, will be settled to-morrow when the teams meet at the Dell. City have a one goal lead from the first leg.

EVERTON YOUTH: McKenna; Tansey, Borrows; Lodge, Ratcliffe, McMahon; Barton (D), Gardner, Taylor, Green, McBride. Sub: Kelly

 

Match report from the Liverpool Echo

 

YOUNG BLUES BOW OUT

26^th APRIL 1979

Everton’s season of disappointments continued in London last night. The Everton youngsters lost their chance of F.A. Youth Cup glory by losing in the second leg of the semi-final to Millwall at the Den.

The London youngsters thoroughly deserved their 2-0 victory which takes them through to the final of the competition.

The writing was on the wall for the Everton kids after they were able to take only a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Goodison a previous night.

At times in last night’s match only Everton goalkeeper John McKenna stood between Millwall and a string of goals. McKenna saved his side on several occasions and Everton were seldom able to get into the match.

Millwall had three youngsters in the side who had played for the first team in a Second Division match against Fulham the previous night.

There was little doubt that their experience was a vital part of the Millwall success.

Millwall settled the match with two goals in three minutes.

They went ahead after 14 minutes through a mistake by McKenna. He fumbled a cross and Alan McKenna bundled the ball home. Three minutes later Millwall’s McKenna nodded the ball down and Chris Dibble beat the Everton keeper with a neat shot.

Everton had Steve McMahon booked after 21 minutes for a foul.

Millwall’s manager George Petchey said: “We showed good character and battled well, but the Everton lads deserved some credit because they made us fight and work for every moment of the game.”