1^st December 1999

3^rd Round – Away at Norwich City

Won 1-0

Scorer – Own Goal

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

EX-BLUE BRYAN PLOTTING A CUP UPSET

1ST DECEMBER 1999

BY DAVID PRENTICE

Everton’s bid to launch another triumphant FA Youth Cup campaign will be undermined tonight – by a former Evertonian.

The young Blues, who reached the semi-finals of the competition last season and were winners the season before, go to Norwich City, where Bryan Hamilton is in charge of youth development.

Hamilton made 54 appearances for Everton between 1975 and 1977, and now works with another ex-blue, Bruce Rioch, at Carrow Road.

“I am sure Bryan will be keen to do well against us.” said Blues’ coach Colin Harvey.

“We have a younger youth team squad this season than in previous years. But, as always, the name of the game is bringing players through for first team selection.”

Everton’s last Youth Cup winners could call on players like Francis Jeffers, Danny Cadamarteri and Richard Dunne.

The likeliest lads to progress from the current squad include Sean O’Hanlon and skipper Peter Clarke.

Four schoolboy players make up tonight’s team, including 16-year-old goalkeeper Graham Black.

The Canaries ended Everton’s interest in the 1997 competition, but the current crop of youngsters at Carrow Road is nowhere near as impressive as that side.

Youth development investment was halted by Norwich two years ago to help arrest financial difficulties the club was suffering.

This season, the Canaries’ under-19 FA Youth Academy side has played 13 matches, won 2, lost 11!

In contrast, the Blues lost their first match of the season last Friday against Liverpool.

The FA Youth Cup competition, however, is open only to under-18 players.

At the other end of the Goodison age scale, meanwhile, defender Richard Gough has played down suggestions he may be ready to talk about extending his one-year contract with the Blues.

The 37-year-old seems certain to quit the club at the end of this season.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

YOUNG BLUES GO THROUGH

2ND DECEMBER 1999

Everton’s Youth team successfully proceeded to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory at a very cold Carrow Road.

In a game full of commitment the young Blues were in charge for most of the 90 minutes.

Strike duo of Nick Chadwick and David Eaton gave the Norwich defence a number of early problems.

Chadwick was given a real opportunity on 12 minutes but he could only direct his header straight at the City keeper.

Eaton was inched wide of the opposition upright with a right foot drive as Everton’s domination looked as though it would not get it’s reward

The visitors continued to calve out chances and early in the second period Ryan Valentine should have put the Blues in front when he found himself with the ball at his feet just eight yards out, but his shot ballooned over the crossbar.

Eventually Everton did get the lead but there was a large portion of good fortune attached to it.

UNFORTUNATE

Craig Penman worked well to find David Eaton, and his cross was turned into his own goal by the unfortunate Michael Merrick.

It was the least the Blues deserved and it was the visitors who looked the more likely to add to their lead than lose it.

Eaton and Chadwick were again the main instigators of City’s problems but it was Everton’s defence who were called into action in the dying minutes, but a late rally by the desperate home side was fruitless.

Keeper Michael Black who performed comfortably all night was in the right place to hold on to substitute Neil Bilham’s late header.

EVERTON: Black, Hogg, Pilkington, O’Hanlon, Clarke, Valentine, Penman (Beck 88), Kearney, Chadwick, Eaton, Curran. Subs unused: Price, Tuft, Schumacher, Crowder.

Referee: Mr S J Lilley

Attendance: 391

 

Match Report from Exeter City  FA Cup programme

19^th January 2000

4^th Round – Home to Brighton & Hove Albion

Won 1-0

Scorer – Peter Clarke

 

Match Report by Steve Milne - Toffeeweb

Everton: Black, O'Hanlon, Price, Pilkington, Clarke (Capt), Valentine (81' Beck), Penman (76' Lester), Kearney, Chadwick, Eaton, Curran.
Subs not used: Hogg, Crowder, Schumacher.  Scorers: Clarke (pen:18') 
Yellow cards: None.  Ref: Mr M Matadar.  Attendance: 764  

On a foggy night at Goodison Park (at one point we all thought that the game may be abandoned), the fog was so bad that you couldn't see the other side of the ground.

To the game: Colin Harvey as usual, played a 4-4-2 formation, with Chadwick and Eaton up front. Brighton's defence obviously came to Goodison Park with the intention of a return leg as the main objective of their game. This however, was not to be, as Chadwick was brought down, for the England U-17 Captain Peter Clarke to score the only goal of the night.

To say it was an uneventful game is an understatement. The Blues only created a couple of chances. Valentine had half a chance as did Curran and, bar the penalty, that was the only action we saw in the first 45 mins.

Second half:

The fog lifted and we could actually see what was going on. After 20 mins of the second half, we were soon praying for the fog to return!!! Kearney had a couple of chances – a shot from 20 yds out, and another from 25, which the keeper failed to hold on to initially, but after a quick crawl, he dragged the ball away from the goal. Chadwick, who wore the number 9 shirt, in the mould of so many former greats, had two half chances in the second half and both were wasted.

The plus factor of the night was that most of the Everton side had never played on the hallowed turf. They will get their second chance in 14 days time when this time, the visitors will be Crewe, who I am sure will give them a run for their money, as they always produce top class young sides.

 

Match Report from the Preston North End programme

2^nd February 2000

5^th Round – Home to Crewe Alexandra

Lost 0-1

 

Match Report from Toffeeweb

Everton: Black, Hogg, Price, O'Hanlon, Clarke, Valentine, Lester (46' Beck), Kearney, Chadwick (80' Schumacher), Eaton (76' Crowder), Curran.
Subs not used: Tuft, Holbeck.  Scorers: None.Everton's quest for Youth Cup success in the Millennium season has ended at Goodison Park after a 1-0 defeat against Crewe Alexandra. With a place in the quarter-finals at stake it was a first-half goal from Dean Ashton that secured the Railwaymen's passage and on the night it was probably a fair result.

It was Crewe who did the early pressing and only a last ditch tackle by Blues defender Michael Price denied Carl Frost a 5th minute shot on goal. At the other end, Everton striker Damien Curran was off target with a header and so was midfielder Tom Kearney with an ambitious effort from distance.

Mid-way through the first half the visitors suffered a cruel double blow. First, left back Alex Morris was stretchered off following a late challenge by John Lester and then his replacement Craig Swiggs lasted no more than 60 seconds before he, too, was carried off after a challenge by Tom Kearney.

To their credit though, Crewe were untroubled by the double switch and they took the lead in the 32nd minute when Dean Ashton headed home from close range.

The closest Everton came to a goal in the first period was in added time (of which there was seven minutes) when Nick Chadwick's clever chip just cleared the crossbar. Crewe should have doubled their advantage on 57 minutes but, after a nice move, David Vaughan's half volley flashed across the face of the goal and wide of the post.

Everton, semi-finalists last year and winners in 1998, were battling hard enough but in truth it was the visitors who always looked more likely to breakthrough again. Price was forced to clear off the Blues goal-line on 66 minutes and after a super dribble Crewe's Dean Ashton forced Graeme Black into a save at his near post six minutes later.

So it's disappointment for Colin Harvey's men and it's Crewe that go through to a home quarter-final tie with Southampton.

 

Match Report from the Derby County programme