Match by Match Reports

11th December 2024

FA Youth Cup 3rd Round

Won 7-0

Scorers - Armstrong H 3, Davis L, Catesby J, Clarke J, Morgan G

 

Match Report from Michael Kenrick - Toffeeweb

Everton U18s slaughter Nottm Forest in FA Youth Cup

Everton U18s 7 - 0 Nottm Forest U18s

A hat-trick for Harrison Armstrong was the icing on the cake at the end of a fantastic win for the U18s at Goodison Park on Wednesday night that takes them through to the 4h Round of this season's FA Youth Cup.

The goals came from Armstrong (3), Davis, Catesby, Clarke and Morgan.

Harrison Armstrong opened the scoring on 25 minutes. Luca Davis doubled Everton’s advantage with a smart shot from Harvey Foster’s free-kick, before Joel Catesby finished off a flowing move involving summer signing Justin Clarke and Armstrong to make it 3-0 at half-time.

Armstrong got his second of the night soon after the break, courtesy of another Foster assist. And the midfielder capped off a sparking performance by setting up both Justin Clarke and George Morgan for goals five and six.

There was still time for Armstrong to get his hat-trick with virtually the last action of the night, rising high again in the 94th minute to head home from a corner.

Everton U18s: G Pickford, Finney, Van Schoor, Davis, Thomas, Foster (60' Olayiwola), Clarke (75' Loney), Matos (60' Gardner), Morgan (75' Wren), Armstrong, Catesby (75' Stewart).

Subs not Used: Lukjanciks, Poland. 

21st January 2025

FA Youth Cup 4th Round

Won 3-1

Scorers - Morgan G 2, Loney C

 

Match Report from Everton FC Website

SOUTHERN'S PRIDE AS UNDER-18s MARCH ON IN FA YOUTH CUP

 

Two goals from George Morgan and a late Ceiran Loney finish secured a 3-1 win at Goodison Park for Everton Under-18s over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Youth Cup fourth round.

A late consolation for Wolves deep into added time was the only minor blemish on a thoroughly professional performance from Keith Southern’s side, who face another home tie against Plymouth Argyle in the next round.

The Blues made three changes from the side that beat Nottingham Forest 7-0 in the third round, with Douglass Lukjanciks replacing George Pickford in goal, Luis Gardner coming in at right-back for George Finney and Braiden Graham replacing the injured Melvin Matos.

The first 20 minutes proved an even affair with neither side able to carve out any real gilt-edged chances, both teams keeping possession well without either goalkeeper being threatened.

That changed in the 27th minute as Harrison Armstrong dispossessed Lucas Rawlings 30 yards out and used the space ahead of him to work the ball forward before playing it neatly inside to Morgan who took a touch into the box before curling a powerful finish past goalkeeper Lewys Benjamin.

It was 2-0 just six minutes later. Wolves, having committed bodies forward in search of an equaliser, left too much space for winger Justin Clarke who, having received the ball and knocked it neatly round Sebastian Lochhead deep in his own half, charged down the left before playing a perfectly-weighted pass across to Morgan.

There was still work for the number 9 to do as he held off Wolves captain Caden Voice, took the ball into the box and placed a perfect finish across Benjamin and into the far corner.

The Toffees took that two-goal lead into the break and held it firmly for the majority of the second half, restricting Wolves to half-chances and efforts from distance with Lukjanciks largely untroubled while occasionally threatening themselves.

It took until the 90th minute for either side to find the net again, and it was substitute Loney who took a neat forward ball from Armstrong in his stride and unleashed a powerful finish across Benjamin.

There was time for Wolves to get a consolation, with Myles Dayman producing a superb finish of his own to get the visitors on the scoresheet in added time, but it is the Blues who advance to the fifth round, with a home tie against Plymouth in store.

Keith Southern, currently taking charge of the U18s following Leighton Baines' move to the Men's Senior Team, told evertonfc.com: "I couldn’t have asked for any more from every member of the squad tonight.

"I thought everybody was first class in their attitude, application and quality, and it was a really fine night for everybody involved.

"There were nerves obviously, it’s a big occasion for the boys and their families. There was nothing in it (in the first 20 minutes) and I thought we had the better of it without really testing their goalkeeper too much.

"I thought we pressed really well at one stage, turned it over and we’ve got some exciting boys in the top line and that’s how the first goal came about. It gave us a really good head start.

"It's always a dangerous score, 2-0, and that's what we said at half-time when we had a chat. The game was not done, far from it.

"(That scoreline) is tough to manage, do you want to sit in and just protect or do you want to go forward and score the third? We obviously tried to go forward and score the third but the nature of the scoreline does dictate that they will have pressure and moments at times where our goal comes under threat.

"I thought in the main we managed those moments. We changed our shape late on, we had to adjust to what they were doing and everybody played their part.

"We stopped crosses when crosses came in, we defended the box really well and everyone ran their socks off tonight. Credit to them."

Full details of our FA Youth Cup fifth round tie at home to Plymouth Argyle will be confirmed on Everton digital channels in due course.

 

 

Match Report from Michael Kenrick - Toffeeweb

EVERTON U18s DEFEAT WOLVES IN FA YOUTH CUP

Everton U18s had to work hard tonight at Goodison Park to defeat a lively Wolverhampton Wanderers U18s in the 4th Round of this season's FA Youth Cup.

For season 2024-25, players must have been born on or after 1 September 2006 and before 1 September 2009 to be eligible to play. 

If a match is drawn after 90 minutes, an extra 30 minutes will be played (15 minutes in each half). If the score remains level after extra time, the winner shall be determined by a penalty shootout.

Hat-trick hero from the previous round, Harrison Armstrong, switches numbers from 10 to 8. 

Everton kicked off and a good ball from Armstrong to Catesby won an early corner but it came to nought. At the other end, a poor punch by Lukjanciks almost let Wolves in. An early card for Foster as he caught his man in a strong tackle. George Morgan was next in the book for a high challenge. 

It was a pretty physical game, with strong challenges going in from both sides, breaking up the play. Everton forced a turnover when Armstrong floored the Wolves No 8 (no foul!), and pushed the ball through to George Morgan, who buried it. 

Everton continued to press, with shots from Armstrong and Catesby. Everton were under some pressure but Justin Clarke broke cleverly and played an intricate ball across to George Morgan, who buried it once again. 

Joel Catesby had to be subbed after suffering a hamstring problem, Cairan Loney coming on just as Wolves missed a sitter when Lukjanciks flapped at a deep cross but the Young Blues kept their lead to the break. 

After the restart and Everton mistakes allowed the visitors to come forward and shoot. And Everton had to do plenty of defending for the first 10 minutes. Off a Wolves corner, Braiden Graham drove all the way from the Everton area and really tested the Wolves keeper. 

A terrible fumble by Lukjanciks almost let Wolves in but for some sharp defending to boot the ball away as Everton looked to play out their winning lead. 

And in the last minute of normal time, Armstrong set up Cairan Loney to finish low inside the post for a fine third goal to seal the win, a goalline clearance by Aled Thomas notwithstanding. But that was not quite the end as Wolves finally scored in added time. And Wolves then hit the post with the final action of the game.

Everton U18s: Lukjanciks, Gardner, Van Schoor [Y:48'], Davis, Thomas, Foster [Y:6'] (86' Akarakiri), Catesby (42' Loney), Armstrong, Morgan [Y:10'] (86' Olayiwola), Graham, Clarke (79' Poland).

Subs not Used: Seve, Stewart, Roberts.

 

4th February 2025

FA Youth Cup 5th Round

Lost 0-1

Match Report from Everton FC Website

EVERTON UNDER 18S EXIT YOUTH CUP WITH PLYMOUTH DEFEAT

Everton Under-18s exited the FA Youth Cup in the fifth round as Plymouth Argyle took a 1-0 victory at Walton Hall Park on Tuesday night.

Cole Fisher’s second-minute penalty was the difference at the final whistle despite a flurry of late chances for the Blues, who could not break down a determined Argyle backline.

There were two changes from the side that beat Wolves 3-1 in the fourth round a fortnight ago. Joel Catesby was replaced by Ceiran Loney while Malik Olayiwola stepped in for Harrison Armstrong who, having signed a new contract with Everton, secured a loan move to Derby County on deadline day.

The Blues were immediately on the back foot as Plymouth won a quick corner from a long ball and as Everton struggled to get the ball clear when it was delivered into the box, Aled Thomas brought down striker Kian Burch and the referee pointed the spot less than a minute in.

Winger Fisher stepped up and sent his penalty to Douglass Lukjancik’s right with the keeper diving left, giving Plymouth an early lead and something to defend.

The Toffees responded well and nearly got an instant equaliser, Braiden Graham running onto a good flick-on from George Morgan and sending his wicked half-volley past Argyle keeper Daniel Holman, but the ball clipped the crossbar on its way over the goal.

Plymouth were far from content to sit on their early lead and twice Everton were grateful to Lukjanciks for the score staying at 1-0.

Fletcher Poole’s curled effort from 25 yards looked destined for the top-right corner in the 19th minute but Lukjanciks acrobatically got across to tip the ball over the bar, and when Burch found himself through on goal in the 36th minute the England Under-18 international stood up well to turn the striker’s effort round the post, having been assisted by some good covering play from Joshua van Schoor.

The Blues’ best chance of the half came between those saves, with Morgan and Graham seeing shots blocked by Plymouth defenders in the box after good work down the left from van Schoor, before a surging run and neat pull-back from Justin Clarke from Graham, but the young forward could not get his effort on target.

It took until the 66th minute for Everton to seriously test the Plymouth keeper again and, once more, the opportunity fell to Graham following a lightning fast counter attack and a surging run from Clarke. Graham’s first shot following Clarke's neat pull-back was well saved by Holman from close range but as the rebound fell to him, Graham was off-balance and he could only turn his second effort over.

From there, however, Everton found their intensity and started putting the visitors under real pressure with Graham and Morgan both getting into excellent positions in the box, only to be foiled by a string of last-ditch challenges and blocks.

Morgan intercepted a loose header in the box with 12 minutes to play only to see his shot diverted behind by Plymouth captain Joel Sullivan, and the ball had to be cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

In the 81st minute Graham latched onto a pinpoint cross from substitute Charlie Stewart but could only find the side netting, while Morgan, a constant menace up front for 90 minutes, was frustrated again by blocks from Holman and Sullivan as the clock ran down.

Ultimately the young Blues could not find a way through a resolute Plymouth backline, with the Pilgrims advancing to the quarter-finals.

Keith Southern, currently leading the Under-18s, told evertonfc.com: "It was a poor start, a catalogue of errors in the first 90 seconds which culminated in us conceding the goal. We didn’t start in the correct fashion at all.

"Even for the next 20 minutes or so, we never really got going. We were shellshocked, I think, by the poor start. We grew into the half a little bit and had some opportunities, but so did they.

"We asked for more at half-time and I think we got more in terms of effort and energy, but we just couldn’t find that decisive, creative moment. We fashioned some good opportunities but just couldn’t capitalise on them.

"They came with a game plan, and we gave them a leg-up early on and given them something to hold onto. I thought they deserved it. Their industry, their effort, their willingness to put their bodies on the line, their collective team spirit, it all showed how you can win a football match and it’s a big learning curve for our lads.

"I thought we fell short in those areas which I’ve spoken a lot to the boys about in the last few days and weeks. It was a difficult evening.

"We should have scored and should have got back on level terms in the second half, I felt, but we didn’t. They have to take their medicine, we have to as staff. We'll reflect and hopefully be better for the outcome."

 

Match Report from Maichael Kendrick - Toffeeweb

FA YOUTH CUP 5TH ROUND DISAPPOINTMENT AT WALTON HALL PARK

Everton U18s – without the inspiration of Harrison Armstrong – went out to Plymouth Argyle after a very early penalty was awarded against them, and converted by the visitors on Tuesday night.

And the Young Blues struggled to impose themselves against this disadvantage, in very blustery conditions at Walton Hall Park.  They had a good spell of attacking play, winning a string of corners after the hour, but the ball would not go in the Argyle net.

Everton U18s: Lukjanciks, Gardner (80’ Robert), Van Schoor, Davis [Y:90+4’], Thomas, Foster, Clarke, Olayiwola (57’ Akarakiri), Morgan, Loney (57’ Stewart), Graham.

Subs not Used: Patrick, Poland, Wren, Moses.