Academy: Penalty seals a point for Everton
TOM McCREADY'S penalty secured a point for Everton under-18s as missed chances proved costly again in a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.
Neil Dewsnip's side had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate for the seventh time this season despite dominating for much of the FA Premier Academy League match.
Despite starting well Everton fell behind just after the half-hour following a Wolves' breakaway.
The referee awarded the home side a penalty following a foul, and Wolves opened the scoring with the resulting spot-kick.
Everton continued to press to get back on level terms and had several chances to score chiefly through Lewis Codling and James McCarten.
Substitute Hope Akpan moved into the area on the hour, but as he was about to shoot he was brought down. McCready fired home the equaliser from the spot.
Everton could have sealed all three points but Ross Barkley saw an effort headed off the line.
Coach Dewsnip said: "It was a very good game and we played very well.
"But it was back to the old, old story in that we had a lot of good chances which we didn't take. They scored with probably their only chance of the first half through a penalty. But we came back and showed good character to grab an equaliser. Overall the performance was smashing. We're very pleased with the performance and a lot of things the lads are doing. But we're disappointed we couldn't get the victory."
Everton have cancelled this Saturday's final Academy League match of the year against West Bromwich Albion which was due to be played this Saturday to give themselves extra time to prepare for the opening FA Youth Cup clash of the year. They take on UniBond League side Nantwich Town in the third round of the Youth Cup at Goodison Park next Monday (kick-off 7.30pm).
Dewsnip said: "We are all looking forward to the Youth Cup match. Obviously we will be aiming to make progress."
EVERTON UNDER-18s: Stubhaug; McArdle, Barnett, McCarten, Nsiala; Craig, McCready, Wallace, Kinsella (Barkley 55); Powell (Akpan 55), Codling (Duffy 80). Subs: Sheppard.
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