Match by Match Reports

9^th December 1997

2^nd Round – Away at Blackpool

Won 1-0

Scorer – Jamie Milligan

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES KIDS DIM BLACKPOOL LIGHTS

10TH DECEMBER 1997

A curling Jamie Milligan free-kick on the stroke of half-time took Everton into the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

The midfielder’s classic strike earned a 1-0 victory at Blackpool, but the young Blues missed a hatful of chances and ended up the game hanging on.

With youth team regulars Danny Cadamarteri and Michael Branch pulled out of the squad ahead of Saturday’s Premiership match against Wimbledon, defensive responsibility fell on the broad shoulders of Richard Dunne, who produced a solid performance as Blackpool threatened in the last 20 minutes.

Everton will now entertain Stoke City at Goodison Park in round three.

EVERTON: Delaney, Regan, Dunne, Eaton, McDermott, Milligan, O’Brien, Hibbert, Osman, Poppleton, Jeffers, Jevons. Substitutes unused: Drew, Farley

 

22^nd January 1998

3^rd Round – Home to Stoke City

Won 1-0

Scorer – Franny Jeffers

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

JEFFERS SEALS YOUTH CUP WIN

23RD JANUARY 1998

A fourth-Round trip to Watford was the prize for Everton in the F.A. Youth Cup as a Francis Jeffers goal beat Stoke City at Goodison Park.

After the interval Everton turned the screw with Danny Cadamarteri terrorising the visitors’ defence. And it was the striker’s pass that fed Jeffers to finish superbly past Calvin Dixon.

But Cadamarteri wasted three glorious chances which would have made the game completely safe as Everton took control. The first being denied by the keeper’s legs and then another effort being cleared off the line by Clive Clarke.

EVERTON: Delaney; Regan; Farley; Dunne; Eaton; Milligan; O’Brien; Poppleton; Osman; Cadamarteri; Jeffers. Subs unused: McDermott; Hibbert and Howarth.

 

3^rd February 1998

4^th Round – Away at Watford

Won 3-2

Scorers – Phil Jevons, Leon Osman, Mick O’Brien

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

3RD FEBRUARY 1998

Everton’s youth team, meanwhile, battle for a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup at Watford tonight.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

DANNY SHOWS CUP CLASS

4TH FEBRUARY 1998

Danny Cadamarteri inspired a fine fightback as Everton won 3-2 in the FA Youth Cup on a frosty Watford pitch last night.

Cadamarteri created goals for Phil Jevons and Leon Osman as Everton hit back with a three-goal burst in seven minutes.

They had trailed 2-0 with half an hour left but Mike O’Brien put Everton into the fifth round with a 67^th minute deflected drive.

Watford adapted quicker to the difficult conditions with Gifton Noel-Williams and Matt Langston giving them a 2-0 lead in 20 minutes.

Noel-Williams outpaced Richard Dunne to score with a cross-shot and Langston forced the ball in after goalkeeper Dan Delaney failed to hold a Lee Johnson corner.

Everton: Delaney, Regan, Eaton, Farley, Dunne, O’Brien, Poppleton (sub Hibbard, 45), Osman, Cadamarteri, Jevons, Milligan.

 

19^th March 1998

Quarter-Final – Home to Ipswich Town

Won 3-2

Scorers – Own Goal, Phil Jevons, Danny Cadamarteri

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES KIDS MARCH ONTO SEMIS

20TH MARCH 1998

A Danny Cadamarteri goal on the hour ensured Everton a semi-final place in the FA Youth Cup following a 3-2 win against Ipswich Town.

The Blues youngsters took the lead on 17 minutes when the busy David Poppleton skipped passed a defender and sent a low cross into the Ipswich area for defender David White to put past his own keeper.

In a first half which saw Everton totally dominate the game the Blues saw chance after chance go begging.

Cadamarteri had his shot blocked by the keeper, Osman’s header crashed off the cross bar and Mike O’Brien had a header cleared off the line.

On 39 minutes, however, they did get their second goal when O’Brien found Cadamarteri superbly and the young Blues sensation squared for Phil Jevons to slot home.

Everton allowed Ipswich a glimmer of hope when, eight minutes from the break, they pulled a goal back through Richard Logan’s right foot shot.

Cadamarteri soon restored Everton’s advantage when he raced onto a through ball and sent a left foot shot past the Town keeper and into the corner of the net.

Ipswich came back once again when, after Ben Woolnough’s shot came off a crossbar, Louie Farrington headed home the rebound from close range.

Everton held on through and progressed into the last four to give everyone at Goodison a lift.

Everton: Delaney, Regan, Eaton, Farley, Dunne, O’Brien, Poppleton (sub Hibbert 90), Osman, Jevons, Cadamarteri, Milligan. Subs (not used): McDermott, McLeod.

Ipswich: Stewart, Coburn, Lowes, Fox, White, Walsh, Campbell (Sub Woolnough 64), Farrington, Dickson, Logan (sub Miller 80) and Ingles. Subs (not used): Supple

 

1^st April 1998

Semi-Final 1^st Leg – Away at Leeds United

Won 1-0

Scorer – Mick O’Brien

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

1ST APRIL 1998

BALD DANNY TO AID BLUES’ YOUTH MISSION

BY CHRIS BASCOMBE

Everton’s young guns will be put aside the club’s relegation worries and shoot for FA Youth Cup glory tonight.

The Blues are expected to field a strong side for the semi-final first-leg tie at Leeds United with first teamers Richard Dunne and a hairless Danny Cadamarteri facing the Yorkshiremen.

Both impressed in the 3-2 quarter final success over Ipswich Town when Cadamarteri was on the scoresheet.

With Everton’s senior squad struggling in the Premiership, the performance of the club’s youngsters is giving the whole club a lift and suggests the future looks bright at Goodison Park.

If they go on to win the trophy, it will be the Blues’ first FA Youth Cup triumph since 1984, the year they also landed the FA Cup.

Blues fans will be hope that 17-year-old Cadamarteri can inspire the youngsters to victory tonight.

But any Evertonians making the trip to Yorkshire might have difficulty recognising the striker.

He arrived at Bellefield on Tuesday without his famous dreadlocks!

A baseball cap covered his bald scalp.

However, despite being eligible to play, one teenager not under consideration for selection for the Elland Road clash is defender Michael Ball.

Te 18-year-old has been a regular for the first-team this year and the Blues are concerned about over-playing the left-back.

Goodison’s youth coaches are also keen that the players who have impressed so much in reaching the later stages should have the opportunity to play in the semi-final.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

FA YOUTH CUP: YOUNG GUNS JUST ONE STEP AWAY AFTER SKIPPER’S WONDERGOAL

MIKE’S STRIKE PLOTS BLUES’ FINAL COURSE

2ND APRIL 1998

Everton gave themselves a great chance of reaching the FA Youth Cup final last night when a fabulous late goal by skipper Michael O’Brien earned them a 1-0 semi final first leg victory at Leeds United.

The Blues youngsters, who haven’t reached the final of this competition since 1984, were full value for their success and created enough chances at Elland Road to have made a second leg at Goodison Park a formality.

However, they were forced to wait until the 84^th minute for O’Brien’s winner – first time 25-yard volley that flew into the top corner of the Leeds net.

The Blues made a bright start when David Poppleton’s drive was pushed away in the first minute and from the resulting corner a glancing header by Adam Farley came back off the Leeds's crossbar.

The home side, who fielded six players from last season’s FA Youth Cup team, were under pressure for most of the first half as the enterprising Blues created a host of goalscoring chances.

Danny Cadamarteri was played in by Leon Osman in the 18^th minute but Leeds skipper John Woodgate made a great challenge as the Blues striker was shaping to shoot and Phil Jevons then forced Robinson to save three minutes later with Osman once again the provider.

On 29 minutes Cadamarteri’s shot was deflected wide and 60 seconds later Michael O’Brien showed great vision when his speculative 30-yard effort just cleared the bar.

Jamie Milligan did put the ball in the net from a direct free kick in the 34^th minute but referee Alan Wilkie ordered a re-take and the second effort was just too high.

Cadamarteri had another shot saved in the 50^th minute and Jevons fired just over on 52 as the Blues pressed for the opener after the break.

Poppleton had a good opportunity in the 56^th minute but he rushed his effort after Robinson had flapped at an Adam Eaton cross and his shot sailed over the bar.

As in the first half, Leeds then enjoyed a spell of pressure without really threatening Steve Delaney in the Everton goal until the 69^th minute when Tony Hackworth’s curling shot was superbly turned away by the Everton keeper.

At the other end the Blues were out of luck again on 72 minutes when Cadamarteri was up-ended right on the edge of the penalty area and Jamie Milligan’s well struck free kick hit the foot of the Leeds post.

But with just six minutes to go, Michael O’Brien struck his wondergoal to stun the home supporters and give the young Blues a priceless first leg advantage to take into next Tuesday's Goodison return.

Leeds United: Robinson, Butler, Evans, Dixon, Woodgate, Kanarvik, McPhail, Watson (Singh 63) Smith, Hackworth, Jones (Feeney 82), Sub not used Evans.

Everton: Delaney, Regan, Farley, Eaton, Dunne, Poppleton, Osman, Jevons, Cadamarteri, O’Brien, Milligan. Subs: Hibbert, McLeod, McDermott.

 

7^th April 1998

Semi-Final 2^nd Leg – Home to Leeds United

Won 2-1

Scorers – Carl Regan, Phil Jevons

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

DANNY A HAIR RAZOR!

BLUES STAR AIM FOR CLEAN-CUT WIN

7TH APRIL 1998

BY DAVID PRENTICE

Danny Cadamarteri will spearhead Everton’s FA Youth Cup Final charge at Goodison Park tonight, hoping to avoid his second close shave of the month.

The teenage striker became one of the Premiership’s most instantly recognisable newcomers this season, because of his distinctive dreaklocks.

But he shaved those locks off before last weeks semi-final first leg at Leeds for charity, and will sport a new crew cut tonight.

The Blues are unchanged from the team that built up a 1-0 first leg lead at Leeds, with Richard Dunne back in action three days after his successful first team appearance at Tottenham.

Skipper Mick O’Brien scored a spectacular 25 yard winner and he leads the side again tonight.

Francis Jeffers, scorer of the third round winner at Stoke, has only been back in training two weeks and is not considered fit enough to return.

Coach Colin Harvey said: “We’ll just tell the boys to be positive and not to sit back.

“We want them to go for goals, without being silly.

“Hopefully there’ll be a big crowd at Goodison to support them, and also give them some invaluable experience.”

First team boss Howard Kendall was at Elland Road last week and added: “We deserved a bigger lead over the 90 minutes at Leeds, but they have some very talented players and the tie is still wide open. It should be an exiting match and a quality game.”

The tie must be decided tonight, with extra time and then penalties used if the scores are level.

The match kicks-off at 7pm. The Main Stand, Upper Bullens Road and Upper Gwladys Street are all open, with admission prices being £3 adults, £1 children.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

COOL REGAN SHOOTS YOUNG GUNS TO FINAL

8TH APRIL 1998

BY DAVID PRENTICE

Everton’s young guns fired the club into their first FA Youth Cup Final for 14 years at Goodison Park last night.

After the one-sided dominance of their 1-0 first leg win at Leeds, the Blues had to come from behind to win 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.

Full-back Carl Regan was the unlikely catalyst to an Everton recovery, rifling in the crucial equaliser with all the composure of a veteran striker.

Then forward Phil Jevons scored his third goal of the Youth Cup campaign to seal victory and set up a two-legged final against either Blackburn Rovers or Peterborough United.

FORMIDABLE COLOSSUS

It was an ultimately deserved triumph for the Blues – against the cup holders – and it was achieved without players of the quality of Michael Ball and Francis Jeffers, one who is now considered a full-time senior and the other who is recovering from illness.

Everton were favourites after last Wednesday’s first leg, but Leeds had overturned a 1-0 deficit in last season’s semi-final to dump out Manchester United – and looked like repeating the feat.

For 45 minutes they bossed the match. Stephen McFail, a midfielder who has enjoyed first team football at Elland Road this season, crossed for Hackworth to head against the crossbar as early as the 12th minute.

Two minutes later Hackworth prodded the ball past the rooted Dean Delaney after Jones’s pass had split Everton’s central defenders.

That was the only time the Blues were breached all night. Richard Dunne was a formidable colossus, while alongside him Adam Farley formed a near impregnable barrier.

They were kept busy up to the break, as Leeds responded more positively to playing in front of the 6,509 crowd.

But in the second half Everton were a team transformed.

Playing neater, more precise football than they had in the opening 45 minutes, they took the game to the visitors.

Skipper Michael O’Brien, scorer of the spectacular long range winner in the first leg, nearly picked his way through for another in the 50^th minute.

In the end he was undone by his own honesty. After refusing to tumble, despite having his legs clipped as he sidestepped the Leeds defence, he couldn’t recover his footing in time to seriously trouble goalkeeper Robinson from 12 yards. He did stay on his feet 10 minutes later, however, slipping a decisive pass into the Leeds penalty area for Regan to romp onto.

Described in the match programme as “dead calm and cool”, the right-back picked his spot and rifled a clinical shot past Robinson – for his first goal of the season !

Everton were ascendant and Regan almost doubled his tally for the season 12 minutes later when his fierce 25-yard drive was clutched uncomfortably by Robinson.

The goal that finally ended the Cup holders’ resistance came 15 minutes from time.

Danny Cadamarteri held up possession on the edge of the penalty, before playing in David Poppleton on the left of the goal. He screwed a cross-shot across the face of goal, where Jevons gleefully swooped to drill in the second.

That strike shattered Leeds – and ensured the Blues would contest the Cup Final for the first time since beating Stoke City in 1984.

EVERTON: Delaney, Regan, Dunne, Farley, Eaton, Poppleton, O’Brien (Hibbert 88 mins), Osman, Milligan, Cadamarteri, Jevons. Unused Subs: McLeod, McDermott.

LEEDS UNITED: Robinson, Butler, Evans, Dixon, Woodgate, Knarvik, McFail, Singh (Feeney 76), Smith, Hackworth, Jones. Unused subs: Donnelly, Quinn.

Referee: Uriah Rennie.

Booking: Woodgate (79 mins) foul.

Goals: Hackworth (13 mins) 0-1, Regan (60 mins) 1-1, Jevons (75 mins) 2-1.

Attendance: 6,509.

 

MEET EVERTON’S PLAYERS OF TOMORROW

So who, exactly, are the young players who have fired Everton into the Youth Cup final?

Michael Ball, Danny Cadamarteri and Richard Dunne, having played in the first team, are youth team players who supporters will know all about.

Some of the other players are not so well known.

Here, striker Francis Jeffers, who missed last night’s clash against Leeds through illness, gives a run down on some of his teammates who will be battling for a Cup Final place.

DEAN DELANEY: Dean’s our goalkeeper – and he’s very good. He has played for the Republic of Ireland under-16s and is in the Irish under-18 squad now, even though he’s still a first-year YTS. The best thing about Dean is that he never makes any blunders that cost goals. He makes the odd mistake, like all young goalkeepers, but never anything that costs us a goal.

CARL REGAN: Carl’s the right-back – and he’s a bit different from the rest of the lads! He is dead calm, all the time. Nothing fazes him and even before the semi-final he’ll be really cool. He could be getting ready for an FA Cup Final at Wembley and he wouldn’t be bothered.

RICHARD DUNNE: All the Evertonians already know plenty about Dunney because of his games for the first team. I bet they don’t know that his nickname at Goodison is ‘Joe Royle Head’ though! I hope Dunney is never transferred anywhere else because I’d hate to play against him. He’s absolutely solid and a great defender.

ADAM EATON: Adam’s another cool customer, who Evertonians might remember very nearly got his first team debut on the last day of last season. He was substitute against Chelsea and got to run up and down the touchline a few times, without actually getting on. He’s a really steady central defender, but he’s versatile too. He’s played a few games at left-back and has two good feet. He’s scored from the penalty spot for the reserves this season, which shows how confident he is.

ADAM FARLEY: Outwardly Adam is really confident – cocky almost – but he gets a bit nervous before the big games. Another good player, he’s also had experience in the reserves this season.

MICK O’BRIEN: Mick the Greek – he plays in centre-midfield and is slow and a bit of a crab really! Only joking, Mick. He’s a very good midfield player with good feet and likes to thread passes through which is good for strikers like myself. He scored the winner in our fourth round tie at Watford and hammered in an absolute beauty in the semi-final first leg at Leeds.

DAVID POPPLETON: David is a real moaner. He plays in centre-midfield and if things aren’t going his way he never stops moaning at everyone. He’s played out of position really, because he likes to get up and down the right. He’s good to play with because he is a good passer of the ball.

LEON OSMAN: Nicknames ‘Long Head’, Leon has the biggest head I’ve ever seen. He’s a lot more of an attacking midfielder than O’Brien or Poppleton and has played for England under-16s. He’s not one to put you through on goal with a pass. He’s rather have a go himself, but he’s scored quite a few goals this season.

PHIL JEVONS: Jevo’s a great striker and I love playing alongside him. He’s the best forward I’ve played with, because he’s so unselfish and works so hard. We seemed to have gelled together when we’ve played.

DANNY CADAMARTERI: Danny who? Every Evertonian already knows everything about him. He scored a great goal against Ipswich in the last round and has had a great season.

JAMIE MILLIGAN: Millie is a great lad to have around the changing rooms. He’s a good laugh and keeps the spirit good. He’s also strikes a great free-kick. He’s scored a few goals from deadballs this season. He reminds me of a young David Beckham, although he likes to think he’s as good as Beckham is know!

WAYNE MCDERMOTT: Wayne's really solid player with a great attitude. He was on the bench in the quarter-final, but played the full 90 minutes against Blackpool.

KEVIN McLEOD: Forrest Gump has a great left peg and scores the odd goal. Earlier in the season he’d beat his man and you’d wait forever for the cross to come, but now he’s getting lots of decent balls across.

TONY HIBBERT: We call Tony the Ice Man. He’s a first year YTS and is a very strong midfielder. He’s had a really decent season.

CARL HOWARTH: Carl’s another first year YTS who plays up front. He gets more than his fair share of goals and is great in the penalty area. We call him Ashley, because he’s the image of the actor in Coronation Street.

FRANCIS JEFFERS: Well it would have been unfair to ask Francis to talk about himself, so we put the question to youth team coach Andy Holden, who said: “Technically Francis is a very good player. He’s an intelligent front man.”

 

1^st May 1998

Final 1^st Leg – Away at Blackburn Rovers

Won 3-1

Scorers – Phil Jevons, Danny Cadamarteri, Leon Osman

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

VICTORY ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH

BLUES COACH SETS THE HIGHEST GOALS FOR YOUTH CUP FINALISTS

1ST MAY 1998

Everton Youth coach Colin Harvey will not be celebrating if his side wins tonight’s Youth Cup first leg at Blackburn.

He won’t even be singing and dancing if the team wins the second leg, too.

Harvey will only feel a sense of mission accomplished when half-a-dozen of the youngsters on show make their senior debuts.

“That’s the ultimate aim.” he said. “We want as many players as possible to follow Michael Ball’s example and become first team regulars.

“Players like Danny Cadamarteri and Richard Dunne have already had runs in the Premiership.

“Francis Jeffers has had a brief taste, but we’ll only really feel our job is successful if everyone else follows them into the first team.

“Obviously that’s never going to happen, but you have to aim at something.

“I was the youth team coach when Everton reached the final in 1977 against Crystal Palace, but I was much happier with the 1979 squad which was knocked out at the semi-final stage – because players like Steve McMahon, Kevin Ratcliffe, Brian Borrows, Joe McBride and Paul Lodge all went on to play first team football.”

Everton will go to Ewood Park tonight as slight favourites, after beating cup holders Leeds home and away in the semi-finals.

The Blues and Blackburn also enjoyed a dress rehearsal for tonight’s clash in the Lancashire League a fortnight ago. The basis of both clubs’ youth teams met at Bellefield in an A team fixture. Everton won 3-0.

Rovers took their revenge on Tuesday in the Lancashire Youth Cup.

Because of the proximity of tonights final, the Lancashire semi was contested between the clubs’ under-16 teams, and Blackburn triumphed 2-0.

REWARD

The FA Youth Cup competition has been given greater profile in recent seasons, with live screening on satellite television.

Colin Harvey welcomes the added exposure.

“Its a reward for the boys who have got there.” he said.

“I don’t think there’s any worries about the youngsters getting too big for their boots.

“Alright, they’ve got through to the FA Youth Cup Final, but they know that if they don’t continue to work hard it will stop there.

“It’s recognition for the hard work that goes on at all levels at the club, too.

“The youth team is just the tip of the iceberg really. So much hard work goes on all the way down to the under-9s level.

“People like Andy Holden, Ray Hall, Les Helm and Neil Dewsnip deserve the utmost praise for their efforts, and the Youth Cup trophy would be a fitting tribute to their work.

“But I’ve said all along that winning it is still secondary to producing first team footballers.”

Tonight’s first leg kicks-off at 7.35pm. The second leg takes place at Goodison Park next Thursday, kick-off 8.05pm.

EVERTON Youth (from): Delaney, Regan, Eaton, Farley, Dunne, O’Brien, Poppleton, Osman, Jevons, Cadamarteri, Milligan, Jeffers, McLeod, Howarth, Knowles, Hibbert.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON PLACE ONE HAND ON YOUTH CUP WITH IMPRESSIVE 3-1 FIRST LEG WIN AT BLACKBURN

HARVEY’S YOUNG GUNS LIFT THE BLUE GLOOM

2ND MAY 1998

BY DAVID PRENTICE

Everton’s flagging spirits were given a mighty lift last night by a vibrant first leg display from their FA Youth Cup finalists.

Colin Harvey’s young guns placed one hand firmly on the prestigious trophy with a 3-1 win at Blackburn.

They now bring the Lancashire club back to Goodison Park next Thursday with a wonderful opportunity to claim the Cup for the third time.

First half goals by strikers Phil Jevons and Danny Cadamarteri were separated by a Martin Taylor equaliser.

But the Blues created chances galore and Leon Osman’s 64^th minute third was richly deserved.

“Every game we’ve played this year we’ve always created chances.” said satisfied coach Colin Harvey afterwards. “We don’t always score the goals from those chances, but tonight we did and we could have had more.”

Blackburn were the more direct side, constantly seeking to release their pacey Northern Ireland goal predator Gary Hamilton – scorer in every round up to the final – with a stream of early balls.

Coached by Harvey, it was no surprise to see the Blues trying to open up Blackburn by shuttling neat and intricate passes around midfield.

The opening goal after 10 minutes was a classic example. Left-back Adam Eaton played an incisive one-two with Jamie Milligan on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area, darted to the byline and drilled back a fine cross which Phil Jevons met with a thrilling diving header. The ball flew into the roof of the net.

Everton were dominant at this stage, so when Blackburn equalised in the 21^st minute it was against the run of play.

DRILLED

Goalkeeper Delaney had arched his back to spectacularly tip over Hamilton’s header, but the resulting corner wasn’t effectively cleared.

Hamilton miskicked, but the ball fell to centre-back Taylor who turned inside two defenders before flashing a perfectly placed drive just inside Delaney’s far post.

The first half chances continued to pile up.

Blues’ skipper Mick O’Brien drilled a 20-yarder narrowly wide. Blackburn’s Hamilton went just as close with a left-footer then Cadamarteri controlled Milligan’s cross in an instant only to see his shot deflected behind.

It looked like being level at half-time, until Cadamarteri was fouled 10 yards short of the penalty area. Jamie Milligan produced the left-footed quality from the free-kick – and Cadamarteri planted a powerful header just inside the post.

Blackburn rallied at the beginning of the second half, but once again Everton produced the quality.

In the 64^th minute they built a patient attack, switching play confidently from one flank to the other. Eventually the ball reached Jevons on the edge of the penalty area with his back to goal, and he touched a pass back to Leon Osman who looped a delicious shot over Stewart.

With Dunne and Farley providing a redoubtable base at the back, Everton could have wrapped blue and white ribbons around the trophy before the first leg had finished.

They came close again when Francis Jeffers lobbed a 20-yard effort over Stewart, but just wide.

The strength of Everton’s youth set-up was reflected in the result and their line-up.

Three players had already figured in the Premiership, while the eligible Michael Ball wasn't even called upon.

The richness of Everton’s past has never been in question, nor it seems, is their future.

Now if they can just sort out the present at Highbury tomorrow …

BLACKBURN ROVERS: Stewart, Richardson, Murphy, Scates, Taylor, Brown, McAvoy, Dunne, Topley (Woodfield, 75 mins), Hamilton, Ryan (Baldacchino, 71 mins). Unused sub: Dunning.

EVERTON: Delaney, Regan, Dunne, Farley, Eaton, Poppleton, O’Brien (Hibbert, 82 mins), Osman, Milligan, Jevons (Jeffers, 72 mins), Cadamarteri. Unused sub: Knowles.

Referee: Neale Barry of Scunthorpe.

Goals: Jevons (10 mins) 0-1, Taylor (21 mins) 1-1, Cadamarteri (44 mins) 1-2, Osman (64 mins) 1-3.

 

7^th May 1998

Final 2^nd Leg – Home to Blackburn Rovers

Drew 2-2

Scorers – Franny Jeffers, Adam Eaton

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

VICTORY IN FA YOUTH TROPHY CAN EASE THE PREMIERSHIP GLOOM

CUP KIDS OUT TO GIVE BLUES A LIFT

7TH MAY 1998

BY DAVID PRENTICE

Everton’s Youth Cup chasing youngsters will put their celebrations on ice – if they clinch the trophy for the third time tonight.

Colin Harvey’s side produced a sparkling first leg performance to build a 3-1 lead over Blackburn.

But even the youngsters have been caught up in the tension concerning the first team’s fate at Goodison Park.

Striker Phil Jevons has scored in the last four rounds of the Youth Cup, including a glorious diving header in the first leg of the final.

But he said today: “It feels funny playing a final when you look at what is happening at the club.

“It would be so much better if the first team were safe because the attention would be focused just on us. But probably at the back of everyone’s mind there is the thought that we could go down.

“It does affect us, even though we aren’t the ones involved, but it hasn’t affected our game, which is good. We hope to give the club a lift by winning the trophy and then we will be rooting for them on Sunday.”

Coach Colin Harvey has warned against complacency in his camp.

“We have to go out and treat it as 0-0, and then go on and win the game.” he declared. “It is as simple as that.

“It will be a tough game, regardless of the lead. When we went 2-1 up they came at us quite a few times and it wasn’t until the third goal we settled down.

KNEE INJURY

“They are a good side – but so are we and we just have to go out and prove it on the night.”

Harvey will be without the scorer of the third goal at Blackburn last Friday, attacking midfielder Leon Osman. He has a knee injury, while Scottish youth international midfielder Jamie Milligan is also nursing a knock.

Jevons is likely to drop back to midfield to allow striking prodigy Francis Jeffers to start his first Youth Cup match since hammering the winning goal against Stoke City in round three.

All sections of the ground, apart from the Top Balcony and the Family Enclosure, will be open for tonight’s match. Admission is £3 adults and £1 juniors for the 8.05pm kick-off. Officials have urged supporters to arrive in good time, with an attendance of up to 15,000 anticipated.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

YOUNG BLUES CUP WIN LIFTS THE GLOOM AT GOODISON

JEFFERS AND EATON BRING HOME SILVER

8TH MAY 1998

BY DAVID PRENTICE

Everton’s dazzling youth team blew a shaft of sunshine through the storm clouds brooding over Goodison Park last night.

The young Blues drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers to claim the FA Youth Cup for the third time, sealing a 5-3 aggregate and bringing a rare smile to the beleaguered features of watching Chairman Peter Johnson.

The Blues effectively sealed the prestigious trophy in the 2^nd minute, when Francis Jeffers added to the 3-1 first leg lead with a dramatic header.

Full-back Adam Eaton later restored the lead after Gary Hamilton had equalised, and even a late Stephen Hawe equaliser couldn’t spoil the party.

Young Francis Jeffers was celebrating more than most.

After seeing half his season wiped out my a mystery heart virus, he was anxious to make up for lost time.

Jeffers already holds one claim to a slice of history at Goodison.

On Boxing Day he became only the second 16-year-old to feature for the first team, joining Joe Royle when he came on as a half-time substitute at Old Trafford.

He etched his name into the record books for a second time less than two minutes into last night’s clash.

After winning a free-kick with all the nous of a seasoned veteran, he darted onto Jamie Milligan’s beautifully flighted dead ball to ram a header into the roof of the net.

With a comfortable 3-1 cushion from the first leg, the strike punctured Blackburn’s early enthusiasm and fire.

A large Goodison gallery, more used to watching the misplaced passes and mishaps of the first team, warmed to the talented teenagers.

One slick piece of ball juggling, at pace, from David Poppleton elicited the warmest applause of the night.

Everton came close to claiming the trophy before half-time.

Jeffers was denied his second goal of the night by the alert Gareth Stewart who sprinted off his goal-line to smother a shot, then Cadamarteri almost danced through the Rovers’ rearguard only to have the ball smuggled off his foot at the last second.

Blackburn, however showed they possessed the character to go with their undoubted ability.

Having disposed of Manchester United and Chelsea in earlier rounds and put five goals past QPR and four goals past West Ham, they claimed their second of the two-legged final in the 53^rd minute.

A dangerous ball volleyed high into the Everton penalty area was only cleared as far as the edge of the box, where David Dunn looped a header back in.

Carl Regan heroically headed that effort off the line, but before he could volley the falling ball clear, Hamilton stole in to force the ball into the net and maintain his record of having scored in every round of this season’s competition.

Rather than rock the Blues, the goal merely goaded them into a response.

Milligan produced yet another quality, driven pass with his left foot for left-back Eaton to chase into the area.

The defender romped after the ball and lobbed a perfectly judged effort over the advancing ‘keeper to spark the victory celebrations.

Stephen Hawe’s sweetly volleyed equaliser six minutes from time merely allowed Blackburn to salvage some pride.

But claiming the 46-year-old trophy is hardly a guarantee of future success. The last time the Blues lifted the Cup in 1984 only Ian Marshall made any impact on the first team.

But the sight of silverware at Goodison Park again gave the whole place a lift before the more significant fixture which lies in wait on Sunday.

EVERTON: Delaney, Reagan, Dunne, Farley, Eaton, Jevons, Poppleton, O’Brien, Milligan, Cadamarteri, Jeffers (Hibbert 75 mins). Unused substitutes: Knowles, McLeod.

BLACKBURN ROVERS: Stewart, Richardson, Murphy, Scates, Taylor, Brown (Hawe 72 mins), McAvoy, Dunn, Topley (Connelly 82 mins), Hamilton, Baldacchino (Ryan 71 mins).

Referee: Neale Barry of Scunthorpe.

GOALS: Jeffers (2 mins) 1-0, Hamilton (53 mins) 1-1, Eaton (70 mins) 2-1, Hawe (84 mins).

ATTENDANCE: 15,258.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Adam Eaton.

 

HARVEY IN AWE OF TALENT

8TH MAY 1998

Everton Youth coach Colin Harvey admitted last night that his trophy winning youngsters had proved him wrong.

After the Blues had claimed the FA Youth Cup for the third time, Harvey said: “I didn’t think they were capable of winning it at the beginning of the competition.

“But the more they have played together the better they have become.

“The fact they’ve worked together and played together and they’re all good mates has helped them.

“In football terms, it’s probably the best youth team I have worked with. In fact it’s probably one of the best I’ve seen over the years I’ve watched youth football.

Last night’s comfortable 2-2 draw sealed a 5-3 aggregate victory over Blackburn Rovers and Harvey added: “ I thought they all set about doing their own jobs in their own departments very well. We said beforehand that is we did that the team unit would be good, and it was.”

Harvey also saluted scorer of the first goal last night, Francis Jeffers.

The young striker saw half his season wiped out with a heart virus and Harvey said: “Francis has been through a difficult few months and he’s still not fully match fit, which showed a bit at the end – but so did his quality.”