Match by Match Reports

18^th November 1996

1^st Round – Home to Nuneaton Borough

Won 3-0

Scorers – Richard Dunne, Michael Branch, Phil Jevons

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

18TH NOVEMBER 1996

Michael Branch will spearhead the youth team’s forward line tonight, when Everton kick off their FA Youth Cup campaign at Haig Avenue against Nuneaton Borough (7.30pm).

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES OFF TO A FLYER

19TH NOVEMBER 1996

BY PAUL JOYCE

Everton’s bid to wrestle away the FA Youth Cup away from holders Liverpool began with a comfortable 3-0 win over Nuneaton Borough last night.

The Blues fielded Michael Branch, Richard Dunne, Danny Cadamarteri and Michael Ball, who have all signed long-term professional contracts this season, in a first-round match at Southport’s Haig Avenue ground.

And it was Irish defender Dunne who opened the scoring on 12-minutes, powerfully heading home a Jamie Milligan corner at the far post.

Two minutes later Branch doubled the advantage when he reacted first to a loose ball and sent another header looping over keeper Lee Bennett.

The scoring was completed with the goal of the game three minutes before the break.

Captain Chris Lane played Phil Jevons in on the right and he hammered a shot from the edge of the area into the net, off the crossbar.

Everton meet West Brom in the second round.

EVERTON: O’Toole, Lane, Holmes, Ball, Dunne, Jevons, Davies, West, Milligan, Branch (Quale 60), Cadamarteri (Denton 80). Not used: Eaton.

 

10^th December 1996

2nd Round – Away at West Bromwich Albion

Won 2-1

Scorers - Danny Cadamarteri, Mark Quayle

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

10TH DECEMBER 1996

Everton reserves entertain Leeds at Haig Avenue this evening (7pm), while the youth team goes to West Brom in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

Everton Reserves (v Leeds): Gerrard, Hottiger, Short, Allen, Hills, McCann, Ebbrell, Limpar, Moore, Rideout, Stuart. Subs: Townsend, Tynan, Speare.

Everton Youth (v West Brom): O’Toole, Lane, Holmes, Dunne, Ball, Jevons, West, Davies, Milligan, Cadamarteri, Quayle

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

QUAYLE GOAL PUTS BLUES THROUGH

11TH DECEMBER 1996

BY PAUL JOYCE

Everton moved into the third round of the FA Youth Cup after goals from Danny Cadamarteri and Mark Quayle helped them to a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Manager Joe Royle, coach Willie Donachie and chairman Peter Johnson were all at The Hawthorns to see the win, and the Blues now face a trip to either Sheffield United or Bolton.

Everton started strongly and opened the scoring on 11-minutes from Cadamarteri, who signed a long-term contract earlier in the season.

The dreadlocked, 17-year-old cut on from the right and smashed a shot from the edge of the area into the roof of the net.

West Brom equalised before the break, but the Blues sealed an impressive win six minutes from time.

Striker Mark Quayle turned home a lose ball after the home ‘keeper failed to hold a Michael Ball shot.

Coach Ronnie Goodlass said: “We started off very brightly, faded a little and then finished strongly.

“Danny Cadamarteri was excellent and it was brilliant for the young lads to have Joe, Willie and the chairman watching them.”

EVERTON: O’Toole, Lane, Dunne, Ball, Holmes, Jevons, Davies, West, Milligan, Quayle, Cadamarteri. Sub: Eaton (Holmes), Gabrielson (Jevons). Not used: Williams.

 

13^th January 1997

3^rd Round – Away to Bolton Wanderers

Won 2-1

Scorers – Jamie Milligan, Phil Jevons

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

13TH JANUARY 1997

Everton youth team, meanwhile, go to Bolton Wanderers tonight for a third round FA Youth Cup tie.

Michael Branch and Richard Dunne, both involved in the first team’s match at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, are expected to start.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON YOUTH THROUGH

14TH JANUARY 1997

BY PAUL JOYCE

AT BURNDEN PARK

Everton face a testing trip to Mike Walker’s Norwich City in the FA Youth Cup fourth round and goals from Jamie Milligan and Phil Jevons ensured a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers.

The Blues dominated the Burnden Road clash from the kick-off, only to squander a succession of chances which should have put them out of sight by half-time.

First team striker Michael Branch should have had a hat-trick, while Jevons saw his 25-yard free-kick strike the foot of a post.

Instead, the visitors, watched by chairman Peter Johnson, senior skipper Dave Watson and manager Joe Royle, went behind on 44-minutes.

Noel Corrigan’s corner fell to Kevin Trueman and he fired a sweet volley past Everton keeper John O’Toole.

Everton, spurred on by Danny Gabrielson in defence and Michael Ball in midfield, continued their pressure after the re-start, but had to wait until the 75^th-minute for the equaliser.

Skipper Chris Lane found Scottish Youth international Jamie Milligan at the far post and he chested down the cross before powering home a fierce shot.

The winner came 10-minutes later when Branch beat two men and fed England international Jevons, who finished well from just inside the area.

In the final minute, Bolton’s Feeney hit the angle of post and bar.

EVERTON: O’Toole, Lane, Eaton, Gabrielson, Dunne, Ball, Cadamarteri, Davies, Branch, Jevons, Milligan. Subs: Denton, Quayle, West

 

27^th January 1997

4^th Round – Away to Norwich City

Drew 1-1

Scorer _ Michael Branch

 

Match report from The Liverpool

 

28TH JANUARY

Everton did more than enough to win through to the fifth round of this season’s FA Youth Cup – but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Norwich City.

Andy West’s brilliant through ball sent Danny Cadamarteri free and his cross was met by Michael Branch, who headed home from just yards out. But Branch later limped out injured.

And after a desperate scramble in the Blues’ goalmouth, Norwich’s Joe Green was on hand to fire the equaliser.

The replay is on February 10 at Goodison Park.

EVERTON: O’Toole, Lane, Eaton, Gabrielson, Dunne, Ball, Jevons, West, Branch (Denton 72), Cadamarteri, Milligan. Subs: (not used) Quayle, Poppleton

 

10^th February 1997

4^th Round Replay – Home to Norwich City

Lost 0-2

 

Match Report from Liverpool Echo 11th February 1997

 

WALKER WINNER BACK AT BLUES

MIKE'S HAPPY RETURN by PAUL JOYCE

Everton's Youth Cup hopes were dashed as former boss Mike Walker made a triumphant return to Goodison.

The Blues' youngsters went down to a goal either side of the break, as Norwich capitalised on two moments of poor defending to grab a deserved win.

The visitors took the lead in the fourth round replay after just four minutes, when Richard Dunne's blocked clearance fell straight to striker Adrian Coote and he crashed a low shot past John O'Toole.

Scottish youth international Jamie Milligan tried to inspire an Everton revival and from his corner on 12 minutes, Mark Quayle saw a back header clip the top of the crossbar.

But for all their possession, Everton, who were watched by manager Joe Royle and coach Willie Donachie, created few clear-cut chances.

First team striker Michael Branch went close with two sharp volleys from outside of the area, but he struggled throughout with a tight hamstring.

Everton looked more lively after the break and should have equalised on the hour. Danny Cadamarteri's cross from the right reached the incoming Milligan, but the midfielder sliced his side-footed shot wide from six yards out.

It was hard luck on the 17 year old, who was by far Everton's best player on the night.

And the missed proved costly when Norwich grabbed the all important second goal just three minutes later.

Centre-half Joe Green took advantage of some statuesque marking to turn the ball past O'Toole after a well-worked short corner between Craig Bellamy and Adrian Forbes.

The arrival of Phil Jevons as a late substitute inspired a late rally of sorts, but Norwich were worthy winners.

They now meet either Blackburn or Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals.

EVERTON: O'Toole, Lane, Eaton, Gabrielson (Jevons 73), Dunne, Ball, Quayle, West, Branch, Cadamarteri, Milligan. Subs not used: Poppleton, Davies.

NORWICH: Green (R), Wilson, Lewis, Kenton, Green (J), Tipple, Forbes, Broughton, Llewelyn (McCullough 83), Belamy, Cootle. Subs not used: Roach, Allen.

Attendance: 1,300