Match by Match Reports

5th December 2025

FA Youth Cup 3rd Round

Away to Millwall

Won 3-2

Scorers - Graham B 2, Loney C

Match Report from Ash Wilkinson

Dramatic Late Loney Goal Sends Under-18s Through In FA Youth Cup

Ceiran Loney’s 97th-minute winner sent Everton Under-18s through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after an entertaining clash at Millwall.

Everton ran out 3-2 winners after an enthralling encounter at the Den that saw the hosts take an early lead through winger Jaydon Thomas-Smith before a first half Braiden Graham brace turned things around heading into the break.

Both sides spurned chances in the second half before Thomas-Smith finished neatly to restore parity, but with both sides pressing for a winner heading into more than 10 minutes of added time, Loney showed incredible composure to receive Demi Akarakiri’s neat pass and slot home.

The match was played in tricky conditions and it was the hosts who took advantage first – taking the lead just 10 minutes in through Thomas-Smith who, having just forced a good save from Douglass Lukjanciks, raced clear of the last man to latch onto a through ball and slot the ball past the Everton keeper.

The Blues responded well to the early setback and won a series of corners which finally bore fruit in the 21st minute. Malik Olayiwola’s high in-swinger from the left was spilled by Millwall keeper Caspar Lindnar at his near post, with Graham on hand to turn the ball home from a yard out.

The confidence was flowing from there. Striker Ray Robert fired narrowly wide from 18 yards after good work on the edge of the box from Melvin Matos and Loney thought he had put the Blues in front on the half-hour after an excellent pass into the box from Malik Olayiwola, only to see Lindnar to pull off a fine one-handed stop to turn his rising effort over the bar.
But Keith Southern’s side would take the lead before the break – and in some style, too. A lofted ball forward was met by Harlow McEveley, who hooked the ball back into the box. Sacha Tsugita-Viera’s headed did not carry enough distance and Graham, a menace to the Millwall backline all afternoon, let the ball bounce once before unleashing an unstoppable half-volley into the roof of the net from 18 yards.
Everton continued the second half in the same vein as they had ended the first, largely in control without finding a way to extend their lead.
That gave Millwall hope and when a hopeful ball forward found the run of Thomas-Smith in behind, the Millwall man made no mistake and slotted under Lukjanciks to equalise.

The introduction of substitute Kean Wren brought real energy to the Blues attack, with the winger coming close in the 88th minute to securing victory with a darting run in from the left and a fierce low drive that hit the side-netting.

Millwall duly worked the ball down the other end and Lukjanciks had to be alert to keep out a low effort from substitute Regan Thompson.

But the final word belonged to Loney and Akarakiri. Winning possession in the middle of the park in the 97th minute, Akarakiri showed great strength and skill to pivot on the ball away from two midfielders before jinking inside a defender and finding Loney onside in the box.

The Scottish striker kept his cool and calmly slotted the ball past Lindnar to secure a deserved victory for Keith Southern’s Under-18s.

Speaking after the game, Southern told evertonfc.com: “It was a great cup tie and a really tough fixture. Credit to Millwall, they were what we expected – direct and physical but with a lot of quality.

“The lads had to dig really deep. It wasn’t our best performance by any stretch tonight but we found a way to win, and I’ve said to the lads after the match that finding a way to win is the most important thing. They did that through character and perseverance.

“The late goal was a really nice moment for Demi and Ceiran. Demi lost possession for their first goal and showed great character with that lovely bit of play.

“Ceiran missed a golden opportunity in the first half but showed great composure to win it for us at the end. They typified our performance.”

The Blues will host West Ham United in the fourth round no later than 26 January, with details to be confirmed in due course.

Match Report from Michael Kenrick - Toffeeweb

Late goal seals Everton U18s FA Youth Cup win

Millwall U18s 2 - 3 Everton U18s

Everton U18s traveled down to The Den and secured a brilliant victory over Millwall U18s in the 3rd Round of the FA Youth Cup on Friday night.

Kieth Southern called up another new name onto the bench for this one, Joshua Chigwada, as Everton have to dig deep into the Academy to make up the numbers.

Everton went behind in the 10th minute after Olayiwola lost the ball in midfield but managed to come back and lead this context going into the last 20 minutes with two goals from Braiden Graham.

A corner from Olayiwola was bundled in at the near post from a corner by Braiden Graham. He then scored with an absolutely brilliant volley in added time to make it 1-2 at half-time. But they allowed the home side to level it in the second half with 15 minutes to play. 

But deep inside stoppage time, a great set-up by Akarakiri gave Cieran Loney a perfect opportunity to seal the win for the Young Blues. 

Everton U18s: Lukjanciks, Matis, Poland, Evans, McEveley, Akarakiri, Pita, Olayiwola [Y:90+11'], Loney, Robert (79' Wren), Graham (90+10' Stewart).  

Subs not Used: Patrick, Billington, Boggan, Brookes, Chigwada.

16th January 2026

FA Youth Cup 4th Round

Home to West Ham United

Drew 2-2 (Won 3-0 on Penalties)

Scorers - Graham B 2, Loney C

Match Report from Michael Kenrick - Toffeeweb

Everton U18s advance in FA Youth Cup on penalties

Everton U18s 2 - 2 West Ham U18s

Academy goalkeeper Douglass Lukjanciks turned into the penalty-shootout hero, making three excellent saves that saw the U18s win their 4th Round FA Youth Cup tie against West Ham United at Goodison Park on Friday evening.

After falling behind in the first half, Everton leveled up the scores when Braiden Graham finished off a predatory move created by Ciran Loney, who pounced on a loose ball in midfield and fed the young striker with a quality ball in behind the Hammers' defence.

Less than 10 minutes later, deep into added tiime, the Blues were in front thanks to Shea Pita who finished off a brilliant chance from Akarakiri's fine through-ball.  

But the visitors were awarded a penalty for a challenge by McEveley that was converted from the spot to level the tie again. No more goals in extra time so it went to penalties, where Douglass Lukjanciks produced the heroics, saving the first three West Ham penalties, whilst Ray Robert, Braiden Graham and Justin Clarke all scored theirs for the Blues, with Nsangou seeing the second Everton penalty saved as the Young Blues advanced. 

Everton U18s:  Lukjanciks, Matos, Evans, McEveley, Poland, Pita (99' Clarke), Akarakiri, Olayiwola [Y:26'] (113' Lambert), Wren (69' Nsangou), Graham, Loney (78' Robert).

Match Report by Geoffrey Blunt - Royal Blue Mersey

Everton progress in FA Youth Cup after penalty heroics

A very young Everton team took to a cold Goodison Park in the FA Youth Cup 4th round tie on Friday night against West Ham United. They lined up in a 4-4-2 formation as below with England Under 18 goalkeeper Douglass Lukjanciks (main picture) captaining the side from the back. They still had some players with Under 21 experience, indeed both Malik Olayiwola (pictured) and Braiden Graham have warmed David Moyes’ first team bench in recent weeks:

It was a scrappy nervous affair in the first quarter hour but a piece of class saw Olayiwola slide Graham in for what looked like the opening goal in the 16th minute but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Twice within 10 minutes the Blues found themselves struggling to clear following a Hammers corner. From the first one, Lukjanciks produced a great save to keep it goalless. It was from the second instance in the 29th minute that the Blues fell behind as the visitors’ skilful player, Beckford, neatly evaded the challenge of Kean Wren and fired home, 0-1.

The Hammers’ attackers, especially out wide, were causing problems and it looked like the Toffees would go into the second half trailing. The one thing that Keith Southern’s team has in abundance however is spirit. It was a bit of persistence that forced a West Ham error fully 50 yards from goal and, after a neat touch from Ceiran Loney, Braiden Graham carried the ball and predictably arrowed home, 1-1.

The equaliser spurred the Blues on and at 45+5th minute great play by Olayiwola allowed Akarakiri to play a fantastic through ball which left a Hammers defender grounded. Shea Pita had a lot to do but fired home confidently.

The second half in truth was really scrappy. There was an 80 yard run by Graham and a shot by Olayiwola deflected narrowly over but, in the 68th minute, a penalty was rightly awarded and converted by West Ham, 2-2. Blues’ substitute Jonathan Nsangou almost celebrated his 16th birthday with a near post goal but the game went to extra -time.

Exhaustion and cramp in extra time was beginning to affect a lot of the players on the pitch but a few in particular, notably the exciting Olayiwola. He had to be helped off the pitch by two of his own players while the Blues’ physio embarrassingly shuffled around the pitch with his hand in his pockets!! To make matters worse, Olayiwola was asked to walk off the pitch the long way, a full 30 yards longer than the other way, you couldn’t make it up!

Graham went close and Lukjanciks made some smart saves during extra time but it finished level and penalties were to decide the outcome.

Ray Robert, Brendan Graham and Justin Clarke all scored for the Toffees whilst Nsangou’s kick was saved. The real hero though was the skipper Lukjanciks (below) who saved 3 on the trot, 3-0 on pens.

The Blues have now thoroughly earned a home tie in the 5th round against Ipswich Town, well done, enjoy the celebrations!!!

At their best the Blues play some very attractive attacking football. The one-touch intuitive play between the trio Akrakiri, Olayiwola and Graham was excellent for periods of the game. The right flank interplay between the very hard working Melvyn Matos and Shea Pita was impressive and likewise between Louis Poland and Kean Wren on the left.

My man of the match has not been mentioned. 16 year old centre back Lewis Evans playing alongside 15 year Harlow McEveley was simply faultless and inspirational.