Match By Match Reports

17th March 2021

3rd Round - Home to Wigan Athletic

Won 4-2 After Extra Time

Scorers - Mathew Mallon, Reece Welch, Tom Cannon 2

 

Everton Under-18s boss Paul Tait says his team will approach Saturday’s match against league leaders Manchester United with “sky-high confidence” following their dramatic FA Youth Cup third-round triumph on Wednesday night.

The young Blues came from two goals down to beat Wigan Athletic 4-2 after extra time at Southport FC's Pure Stadium. The Toffees will travel to Manchester City in the fourth round, with the tie provisionally slated for Saturday 3 April.

Everton’s immediate attention now returns to the U18 Premier League (North), with the Toffees aiming to sustain their momentum after three consecutive victories when United visit USM Finch Farm on Saturday (11am GMT).

Maximum points could see fifth-placed Everton move into the division’s top-four.

“Confidence will be sky-high after the Youth Cup win,” Tait told evertonfc.com. 

“The boys will be feeling really good about themselves. We had a few injuries – which we need to look at – and some of the lads will go with the First Team and some back to the Under-23s for their game against Arsenal. 

“There were lads who missed out against Wigan who will play on Saturday.

“United are top of the league so it’s going to be another really good game. We’ll need to move on from the cup win and keep using that confidence, resilience and character we showed.

“There are some tactical areas where we got better as the game went on against Wigan, in terms of our build-up and link-up play, and our attacking threat. We’ll look to take that into the United game, too.”

Tait says Everton’s blend of determination, resolve and technical quality were all required in their stirring Youth Cup comeback victory. 

Goals from Sean McGurk and Harry McHugh put Wigan in a commanding position before Matthew Mallon halved the deficit for the Toffees.

Everton striker Tom Cannon then saw a penalty well saved but the Blues levelled through Reece Welch midway through the second half.

And Cannon settled the tie by netting twice in extra-time. He found the bottom corner with a precision strike from the edge of the area and stepped up again when Everton were awarded a spot-kick – this time slotting home from 12 yards.

“Tom’s a goalscorer,” Tait said. 

“I think you’ve got to be a certain type to keep putting yourself in positions to score. He doesn’t hide. That takes a certain type of mental toughness and instinct. 

“I was delighted with him. His all-round game was really good. For five or 10 minutes, he let the penalty miss affect him a little bit. 

“But then, after the half-time break, he was very good.”

Tait said Cannon’s attitude was reflected throughout his team.

 “I was really proud of the way the lads showed character and resilience,” he added.

“It was a real cup tie. It was a bit of a shaky start from the boys, we didn’t quite get into our rhythm. 

“Credit to Wigan, they started really well and they pressed us – they didn’t allow us to play.

"But from half-time onwards, we took control. 

“You’ve got to remember these games are a massive part of their development as players. Those qualities of resilience and character are so important for them if they want to progress to play in our First Team or anywhere as a professional.

“We spoke about that at half-time – and the players spoke about what they needed to turn the game around. 

“Firstly, psychologically, coming up with those traits of good resilience and character, and then turning that into quality football on the pitch. We produced that.”

Match Report – Liverpool Echo

 

Everton mounted an impressive comeback to defeat Wigan Athletic 4-2 in the third round of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday.

Tom Cannon celebrated signing his first professional contract last week by scoring an extra-time brace after Matthew Mallon and Reece Welch had levelled proceedings.

Everton under-18s manager Paul Tait named a strong side for the tie - Thierry Small and Tyler Onyango both started after making their senior debuts in the FA Cup proper in January - but watched as his team conceded twice in the opening half-an-hour.

Harry McHugh opened the scoring with a fine top-corner finish inside the penalty area before Small, 16, limped off after taking a knock to his leg.

Former Liverpool academy starlet Sean McGurk doubled the advantage for Wigan shortly after but Matthew Mallon immediately pulled one back for Everton.
The right-back was found by lively forward Charlie Whitaker and finished smartly past Wigan goalkeeper Owen Mooney.
Everton were then awarded a penalty five minutes later but Mooney produced a sensational save to his left to deny Cannon, who had won the kick after being brought down following a smart one-two with Whitaker.
But the home side improved after the break as midfielder Sean McAllister was introduced from the bench with Tait abandoning the five-at-the-back system for a more traditional 4-4-

Everton director of football Marcel Brands watched from the stands alongside Duncan Ferguson, David Unsworth, Francis Jeffers and Leighton Baines as defender Reece Welch poked home a rebound from a corner to level midway through the second-half.

Cannon almost made up for his penalty miss by heading home a sensational cross from Mallon with five minutes remaining but Wigan centre-back Jason Fulton received a round of applause from the Pure Stadium for clearing from the line.
The tie went to extra-time and the Latics could only watch as Cannon finally found the back of the net with a beautiful curling effort moments after the restart.
He then bagged his second of the night after substitute Rafael Garcia - who returned from a 19-month injury lay-off in February - was fouled in the area to win another penalty.
Cannon went the same way - as did Mooney - but his strike had enough on it to beat the goalkeeper this time around.
Everton will travel to Manchester City in the fourth round later this month after the Citizens demolished Birmingham City 6-1 last week.

 

Match by Match Reports

3rd April 2021

4th Round - Away at Manchester City

Won 1-0

Scorer – Luke Butterfield

 

Everton FC Website

Luke Butterfield struck a brilliant 98th-minute winner as Everton knocked Manchester City out of the FA Youth Cup on an afternoon of high drama.

The substitute – who was introduced 12 minutes from time after Tyler Onyango was stretchered off – drilled an effort into the bottom corner deep into stoppage time to spark wild celebrations at City’s Academy stadium.

The goal was just reward for a spirited and determined effort from the young Blues, who progress to face Chelsea in the fifth round.

City had the first chance of the afternoon when McAtee dragged a shot fractions wide from the edge of the area.

Everton’s first meaningful effort on goal came just moments later when Issac Price’s floated cross was met by Tyler Onyango – the midfielder directed his header on target but City keeper Mikki van Sas made a regulation save.

City were enjoying the lion’s share of possession, however, and Zan-Luk Leban was forced into action when Oscar Bobb worked space for a shot on the right channel – the Slovenian made a fine one-handed stop.

McAtee threatened again soon after when he burst onto Liam Delap’s through pass. Leban was alert and raced off his line to close the angle and make the save.

Everton looked a danger on the counter and almost broke the deadlock minutes before half-time. Skilful forward Charlie Whitaker carried the ball forward at speed before sending a well-struck effort just wide of the post from 20 yards.

City threatened 10 minutes after the half-time interval when defender Callum Doyle’s long-range effort was athletically tipped over the bar by Leban.

The home side had the ball in the net from the resulting corner but Liam Delap was adjudged to have used his hand before slotting past the Everton goalkeeper, and the strike was chalked off.

City were beginning to exert consistent pressure at this point and Leban made another important intervention when he kept out McAtee’s strike from inside the area.  

Everton saw appeals for a penalty waved away just after the hour-mark when Tom Cannon went over in the area.

Back came City and Leban made a fine double save from Alex Robertson and Samuel Edozie.

The Toffees were then indebted to centre-back Eli Campbell, who did superbly to block Liam Delap’s close-range effort.

Everton were dealt a significant blow 12 minutes from time when the influential Onyango was forced off. Onyango was dribbling forward at speed when he was caught by Alex Robertson – after a lengthy break in play while the Everton man received treatment, the midfielder was taken off on a stretcher.

The extended hiatus caused by Onyango’s injury meant seven minutes of added time.

All of those seven minutes had elapsed when Butterfield took aim from 20 yards.

He caught hold of his strike perfectly, his powerful effort finding the bottom corner and leaving City stopper van Sas grasping at thin air.

15th April 2021

5th Round - Away at Chelsea

Won 2-1

Scorer - Sean McAllister (2)

 

Match Report from Evertonfc.com

MCALLISTER HITS DOUBLE IN DRAMATIC EVERTON YOUTH CUP WIN

Everton secured another dramatic FA Youth Cup victory on Thursday as a Sean McAllister’s double earned the Toffees a superb 2-1 fifth-round success at Chelsea.

With the scores tied at 1-1 and just three minutes left on the clock, Northern Ireland youth international McAllister fired a shot from 20 yards that squirmed under Chelsea goalkeeper Lucas Bergström and nestled in the net.

Everton progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face West Bromwich Albion.

The win represented another significant scalp for Paul Tait’s Blues – who struck a 98th-minute winner to knock out holders Manchester City in the previous round – with Chelsea having enjoyed significant success in the competition in recent years. The west London side won the Youth Cup for five straight years between 2013 and 2018.

Everton took the lead on 35 minutes when McAllister drilled a precision first-time finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.

The Blues had almost taken the lead after just 10 seconds but Lewis Dobbin saw his close-range effort go just wide.

Chelsea mounted pressure in the second half as they hunted a leveller and they got their reward when Joe Haigh nodded in 20 minutes from time.

Substitute Rafael Garcia almost put Everton back in front when he went through one-one-one seconds after his introduction, but he dragged his effort wide.

Livewire forward Garcia then thought he had won his side a penalty when he looked to have been fouled inside the box, only for the referee to instead rule the challenge had been on the edge of the area.

But McAllister’s late strike meant that decision proved academic as he completed a match-winning brace to spark joyous celebrations among his teammates and the Everton staff.

 

Match Report from Liverpool Echo

EVERTON FA YOUTH CUP DRAW CONFIRMED AFTER CHELSEA WIN AS DUO HANDED FIRST TEAM BOOST

EVERTON BEST CHELSEA 2-1 AT KINGSMEADOW ON FRIDAY THANKS TO A DOUBLE FROM SEAN MCALLISTER

Everton will travel to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final after a Sean McAllister double sealed a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the fifth round on Thursday.

Paul Tait had guided his under-18 side to victories over Wigan Athletic and holders Manchester City before facing the Londoners, who have won seven of the last 11 FA Youth Cup editions.

 

McAllister opened the scoring with a driven finish inside the penalty area during the first-half but Everton were pegged back by a Joe Haigh header after a sustained period of Chelsea pressure.

Everton substitute Rafael Garcia then had a chance seconds after being introduced but fired wide of the post with the home side continuing to threaten on the front-foot.

With two minutes remaining, Garcia jinked into the penalty area before being tackled and the loose ball fell to McAllister on the edge of the box.

The 18-year-old failed to connect properly with the strike but Lucas Begrstrom in the Chelsea goal allowed the ball to slip through his hands and into the back of the net to spark wild scenes of celebration.

Everton are set to take on West Bromwich Albion in the next round with fixtures to be played before May 1. Albion beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-0 in their fifth round tie earlier this week.

Reece Welch, Isaac Price and Zan-Luk Leban have all featured in the Youth Cup run this season while also training with the first-team under Carlo Ancelotti at times.

Welch and Price were left out of the squad for the win at Chelsea as Tait confirmed they had remained with the senior set-up ahead of the visit of Tottenham Hotspur after being named on the bench at Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday.

Matthew Mallon, Thierry Small, Lewis Warrington, Luke Butterfield, Tom Cannon and Charlie Whitaker have all been handed their under-23 debuts this season and started against Chelsea.

Lewis Dobbin worked with the u-23s last term, but he limped off at Kingsmeadow with a calf complaint after 25 minutes on his first start since recovering from a knee injury suffered in December.

 

27th April 2021

6th Round - Away to West Bromwich Albion

Lost 1-2

Scorer - Stanley Mills

 

Match Report from Evertonfc.com

 

EVERTON'S THRILLING YOUTH CUP RUN ENDED BY WEST BROM

Everton’s thrilling FA Youth Cup run was brought to halt on Tuesday night as Paul Tait’s talented and resilient Blues side were edged out 2-1 in a pulsating quarter-final clash at West Bromwich Albion.

Having beaten Manchester City and Chelsea – who between them have won eight of the past nine editions of the competition – in the previous two rounds, Everton looked on track to claim last-four spot when Stanley Mills put the Toffees in front just after the hour mark.

But a quickfire double from West Brom’s Rico Richards and Zac Ashworth turned the game on its head and, despite a late Everton rally, the home side held out at The Hawthorns.

Everton had the game’s first clear-cut chance on 12 minutes. Sean McAllister – scorer of both the Blues’ goals in their dramatic 2-1 victory at Chelsea in the last 16 – broke forward from midfield and saw a shot deflected just wide of the post.

From the resulting corner, the Toffees worked the ball into Charlie Whitaker’s feet. The attacker turned his man before expertly chipping a cross towards Eli Campbell, who volleyed fractions over.

West Brom gradually gained a foothold in the game and Zan-Luk Leban was forced into action on 27 minutes when he kept out Jovan Malcolm’s header from six yards out.

Leban made another splendid save on the stroke of half-time when he athletically tipped Richards’ dipping strike over the crossbar.

Everton had strong appeals for a penalty shortly after the interval. Luke Butterfield did superbly to drive into the box before crossing for McAllister – the Northern Ireland youth international hammered an effort at goal from close range which was blocked by defender Ethan Ingram. The ball looked like it may have struck the West Brom player’s arm but the referee did not point to the spot.

Everton did make the breakthrough on 62 minutes. Butterfield’s low drive landed at the feet of Mills, and the midfielder took a touch to set himself before clinically slotting past Maksymilian Boruc in the West Brom goal. 

West Brom’s response was instantaneous, with Richards rifling home after Malcolm’s powerful shot was parried by Leban.

The equaliser sparked a sustained spell of pressure from the home side. Matty Mallon made goal-line clearance from Caleb Taylor’s header and Leban made a stunning point-blank save from Malcolm.

The Baggies did hit the front on 71 minutes, however, when Ashworth took aim from 20 yards and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner.

Everton pressed in search of a leveller and Thierry Small’s rising drive 10 minutes from time brought an athletic stop from Boruc.

Livewire substitute Rafael Garcia then looked to have been fouled in the penalty area by Lino Sousa only for the referee to wave play on.

Small again came close in stoppage time but his effort went fractions wide as West Brom held out to secure a semi-final place.

 

Match Report from Toffeeweb - Michael Kenrick

YOUNG BLUES FIND WEST BROM A YOUTH CUP TIE TOO FAR

WEST BROM U18S 2 - 1 EVERTON U18S

After two massive away wins against teams with the best of pedigrees at this level in recent years, Everton U18s have reached the quarterfinal stage of this season's FA Youth Cup. They travelled to The Hawthorns this evening to face West Brom for a very absorbing matchup was ultimately edged by a stronger home side despite Everton having taken the lead midway through the second half.

Sean McAllister got a chance to shoot at goal in the first 10 minutes but he took a little too long and it went out for a corner. From that, Eli Campbell should have done a lot better when played in.. but showing why he's not a striker.

Welch gave up a foul in a dangerous position but the home side could not profit, despite dominating the early exchanges. West Brom created a guilt-edged chance that was headed straight at Leban who was very l=thnkful to bat the ball away. But Everton mistakes were continually inviting pressure as The Baggies looked to take control of the game with Leban making a few more important saves.

A great ball down the right-wing looked to have released Cannon but he completely messed up, failing to make a pass, losing the ball, and allowing West Brom to attack again. Cannon almost made up for it with a nice ball for Whitaker but the defender was in quickly.

A wonderful West Brom strike required a fingertip save from Leban before the half-time whistle went, with both sides putting in a lot of effort but making plenty of mistakes.

The story was all too familiar after the break with West Brom immediately pressing and putting a lot of pressure on the Everton defence, which stood firm. But at the other end, Everton created a good chance and screamed for a penalty on the defensive block.

Everton continued to apply more pressure and finally a golden chance fell to Stanley Mills, who buried his shot well wide of the keeper, an excellent finish to give Everton the lead.

But a determined attack saw the home side equalize after a good save parried back into play by Leban was hammered back past him. Livewire Rafael Garcia came on for Tom Cannon. Leban had to make another good save from a tricky curling shot. An incredible corner by West Brom looked ot hve been put in at the near post but Matty Mallon was pon the post and kept it out of the Everton net.

More impossible West Brom pressure saw a great point-blank save by Leban. Everton went up the other end but could not score and the inevitable append then, as West Brom, who had been the better side overall, scored a fine goal into the corner, beyond Leban.

An excellent counter-attack saw Small try to lash it home from a narrow angle but it was saved well. A couple of corners followed for Everton but came to nought.

Garci should have had a penalty as he drew a foul just inside the 18-yard box but nothing this time from the referee. But Everton wasted the corner, poorly overhit, with barely minutes left.

Everton kept pressing, Butterfield with a free-kick from near the corner flag, followed by Samlla again lashing the ball this time across the face of goal, but the young Everton players just couldn't make it happen and a very competitive FA Youth Cup tie brought Everton's involvement to an end for another season.

Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon, Welch, Campbell, Small, Warrington, Butterfield, Mills (78' Dobbin), Whitaker, McAllister, Cannon (71' Garcia).
Subs: Stewart, Lowey, Kristensen, Quintyne, Metcalfe.