Match by Match Reports

10th December 2021

FA Youth Cup 3rd Round

Won 3-2

Scorers - Stanley Mills 2, Francis Okoronkwo

 

Evertonfc Website

MILLS HITS DOUBLE AS EVERTON SEAL YOUTH CUP PROGRESS

Manager Paul Tait hailed an impressive collective Everton performance after the young Blues came from behind to beat Fulham 3-2 in an entertaining third-round FA Youth Cup tie on Friday night.

Stanley Mills netted a brace and Francis Okoronkwo was also on target as Everton wrapped up a deserved victory under the lights at Goodison Park.

Olly Sanderson gave the away side the advantage against the run of play midway through the first half but the Blues rallied after the break to get the goals their performance merited.

Mills’ cool finish levelled the score just before the hour mark – and his deflected effort seven minutes later put the Toffees in front.

Everton substitute Okoronkwo capitalised on defensive error to make it 3-1 late in the piece, meaning Fulham midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias’s stunning free-kick deep into stoppage time was merely a consolation.

The Blues will have another home tie in the fourth round and will lock horns with either Sheffield United or Millwall.

In his post-match interview with evertontv, Tait said: "I thought we thoroughly deserved the victory and bossed the game from start to finish.

"We were really unfortunate to be a goal down at half-time with all the good play we had – we created a couple of good chances that we should have taken.

"It was just a case of getting the next goal and then we thought we would go on and win the game. 

"Stan [Mills] did well, getting the two goals, so he’ll grab the headlines, but I thought every single player worked really hard in and out of possession.

"Frankie [Okoronkwo] came on and made an impact, too. He worked very hard as a number nine."

Everton started the match on top, with Mills utilising his pace to get round the outside of Fulham left-back Luc De Fougerolles twice in the opening five minutes. 

The impressive Mills was the creator of the Blues’ first genuine chance when he skipped clear and laid the ball off to Isaac Price just outside the Fulham box, however the number 10’s strike was smartly saved at the near post by Alex Borto.

Tait's team dominated the opening period but it was Fulham who took the lead on 21 minutes. Luke Harris found some space to get a shot off just outside the Toffees box – his effort was parried by Everton keeper Patrick Nash, but Sanderson was there first to tap the ball into an empty net. 

Everton were on the hunt for the equaliser, and their best chance to get it came just before half-time. Charlie Whitaker pulled off a wonderful turn after the ball was fired into him from Price inside the Fulham area but, under pressure from Fulham captain Devan Tanton, he put his shot wide. 

Everton got their deserved equaliser in the 59th minute. Whitaker drifted inside with the ball from the left wing and played a brilliantly-timed pass to Mills in behind the away team’s defence. Mills timed his run to perfection and calmly slipped the ball past Borto to make it 1-1. 

Mills turned the game on its head soon after when his powerful left-footed strike from just inside the area found the back of the net via a deflection off substitute Fulham defender Stefan Parkes. 

Mills was causing mayhem and nearly helped his side get another on 70 minutes. After running clear again, his cutback found substitute Okoronkwo, whose well-hit effort was well saved by Borto. 

The Toffees did eventually get their third in the 85th minute after a mistake at the back by Parkes – his attempted pass back wrong-footed the Fulham keeper, and Okoronkwo raced through to shoot into an open net.  

There was still time for some late drama, with Everton defender Matty Mallon and Fulham’s Harris red-carded following a melee involving several players.

Dibley-Dias found the top corner with a splendid free-kick deep into stoppage time, but it was too little, too late, for the away team.

Everton boss Tait added: "It was a big game for our players, with some of them playing at Goodison for the first time.

"I thought they started the game well and there were no nerves in terms of their football. In the second half, playing in this stadium and on this pitch, it does inspire them. 

"We’ll look forward to the next round now against Sheffield United or Millwall and hopefully we can get that game back here at Goodison, too."

Toffeeweb Report

Blues comeback for fine win in the FA Youth Cup at Goodison

Michael Kenrick Friday, 10 December, 2021

EVERTON U18S 3 - 2 FULHAM U18S

Everton's U18s kicked off their participation in this season's FA Youth Cup with a fine comeback win in a ding-dong game against Fulham at Goodison Park on Friday night.

Everton started the game showing some good intent to get forward ut Metcalfe was a little too eager with his heavy forward passes. Charlie Whitaker had the first decent shot at goal, then Mills than Whitaker again with an even better strike, all saved by the Fulham keeper.

But against the run of play, a parried save off Nash was finished with ease to put Fulham ahead in their first attack a quarter of the way through the game. That unfortunately was a massive blow to the confidence they had shown as the rain started pouring down on their Goodison parade.

The young Blues got back in attack mode toward the end of the half, and had a slew of chances, most which the Fulham keeper saved, one notable effort by Whitaker he stabbed wide.

Francis Okoronkwo came on to replace Kouyate after the break. But it was Fulham who looked like adding to their lead as Everton were pushed back and could produce nothing. That was until the two wingers combined superbly, Whitaker playing an excellent through-ball from half-way that Stan Mills could run onto and slide past the otherwise very solid Fulham keeper. Game on!

Then some much better football but it was a wicked deflection that helped Stan Mills score the go-ahead goal for the young Blues with 22 minutes to play.

Then a brilliant move started by Metcalfe and with Mills crossing perfectly for Okoronkwo but that excellent Fulham keeper stopped Everton's third with a fantastic save.

Fulham always looked to have a goal in them but a terrible backpass went past their keeper and Francis Okoronkwo was on it to lash the ball into the empty net from 3 inches out to make the win secure for the young Blues.

But the game ended on a sour note when Mallon went through on Harris and he reacted badly, a fierce scuffle ensued and ultimately both players were sent off as 4 minutes added became 9 and Diaz scored straight from the free-kick.

Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon [R:90+4'], Samuels-Smith, Campbell, Welch [Y:90'], Butterfield, Mills, Metcalfe, Kouyate (46' Okoronkwo), Price, Whitaker.
Subs: Stewart, Dixon, Tierney, Heath, Lawrence, Sherif.

 

14th January 2022

FA Youth Cup 4th Round

Won 2-1

Scorers - Francis Okoronkwo, Stanley Mills

 

Match Report - Everton FC Website

Everton Under-18s progressed to the FA Youth Cup fifth round with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Goodison Park on Friday night.

Francis Okoronkwo's superb solo effort two minutes before the half-time interval gave the young Blues a deserved lead.

That advantage was doubled just after the hour mark as Okoronkwo turned provider, setting up midfielder Stanley Mills to convert from close range for his fifth goal in his past five outings.

Blades defender Sai Sachdev pulled one back with a late header - but Paul Tait's side defended well in the closing stages to see out the result.

The Toffees, who had defeated Fulham in the previous round of the competition, now await details of their next opponents, with all fifth round matches set to be played by 5 February.

Everton missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring inside 12 minutes when Okoronkwo was hauled down inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.

Isaac Price, who scored for the Under-23s in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace earlier this week, failed to convert, though, with goalkeeper Callum Hiddleston guessing the right way and applying a strong right hand to keep out the effort.

The visitors were restricted in an attacking sense for large periods of the tie but Blues midfielder Luke Butterfield had to be alert and pull off an excellent block to keep out Josh Smith's goal-bound strike following a sweeping counter-attack midway through the first half.

Butterfield was contributing at the other end of the pitch, too.

Five minutes before the interval, his inch-perfect lofted pass was met with a clinical first-time finish from Mills - but celebrations were cut short as the offside flag was raised.

Everton eventually broke the deadlock on 43 minutes.

It came from the Blues' danger man on the night, as Okoronkwo - operating as a left forward - picked up possession on the corner of the penalty area before beating two markers with a clever piece of skill and finding the bottom corner with a precise side-footed finish.

It was no more than the hosts deserved.

Okoronkwo then provided the assist as the youngsters doubled their lead on 63 minutes.

After a powerful run into the penalty area, the 17-year-old saw his prodded effort saved by Hiddleston but then showed composure to square the ball for Mills to smash home from inside the six-yard box.

United right-back Sachdev headed home from a corner with two minutes remaining to set up a nervy finish - but Everton stood strong to seal a satisfying night for manager Tait.

 

Match Report - Toffeeweb

EVERTON U18S 2 - 1 SHEFFIELD UTD U18S

Everton Under-18s secured a fine win in the FA Youth Cup on Friday night beating Sheffield United 2-1 at Goodison Park to move into the 5th Round.

Everton won an early penalty when Okoronkwo was fouled but Isaac Price failed to convert from the spot.

Five minutes before the interval, his inch-perfect lofted pass was met with a clinical first-time finish from Mills - but it was flagged offside.

A goal from Francis Okoronkwo's just before the half-time interval finally gave the young Blues a deserved lead after he beat two defenders with a clever piece of skill and found the bottom corner with a precise side-footed finish.

That advantage was doubled just after the hour mark as Okoronkwo turned provider, setting up midfielder Stanley Mills to convert from close range for his fifth goal in his past five games.

The Blades pulled one back with a late header - but Paul Tait's side defended well in the closing stages to see out the result.

Scorers: Okoronkwo (43') Mills (63'); Sachdev (88')

Everton U18s: Nash, Mallon, Samuels-Smith, Campbell [Y:??'], Welch, Butterfield, Mills [Y:55'], Price, Sherif (83' Lawrence), Barker (73' Djankpata), Okoronkwo. Subs not Used:Stewart, Quintyne, Tierney, Jagne, Heath.

 

8th February 2022

FA Youth Cup 5th Round

Lost 1-4

Scorer - Francis Okoronkwo

 

Everton were unable to capitalise on a lightning-quick start after Manchester United came from behind to beat the young Blues 4-1 in a fifth-round FA Youth Cup tie at Old Trafford.

Francis Okoronkwo put the Toffees ahead on 10 minutes but United produced an almost immediate response when Charlie McNeill netted from the penalty spot.

Kobbie Mainoo then headed United ahead before second-half strikes from Sam Mather and Alejandro Garnacho sealed the home side's progress.

Everton started the game with attacking purpose, with the in-form Stanley Mills – who had scored three goals in the Blues’ two games in this competition this term – coming extremely close to opening the scoring five minutes in. 

The tricky winger used his pace to get round Logan Pye on the right wing and shoot from just inside the box, forcing United keeper Radek Vitek into a fine save.

Everton got the lead their positive start deserved on 10 minutes through Okoronkwo. The teenager calmly slotted the ball past Vitek into the far corner of the net after teammate Martin Sherif picked him out.

The hosts quickly responded, however, and were awarded a penalty when Luke Butterfield bundled over Garnacho in the area. Charlie McNeill hammered his spot kick past Patrick Nash, leaving the Everton number one with no chance.

Isaac Price then came within inches of putting Everton back in the lead on 19 minutes when his exquisite volley from just outside the area crashed against the bar.

It was the home side who were to strike next, though, when a curling cross from full-back Marc Jurado was met by Mainoo. The midfielder’s cushioned header found the bottom corner to put United in front.

Everton came close to levelling the scores 17 minutes into the second half when Jenson Metcalfe’s inswinging corner was met by Sherif, whose header flashed just past the post.

That missed opportunity was made all the more agonising when United made it 3-1 just one minute later – Mather smashing the ball home from after a rebound fell kindly to him 15 yards out.

The Toffees showed impressive determination as they continued hunt a way back into the game and Metcalfe saw his shot clip the bar from 25 yards out.

But it was to be United’s night and they got their fourth of the game when Garnacho broke clear on the counter-attack in the final minute before finishing past Nash.