ACADEMY FOOTBALL: Duo erase FA Youth Cup disappointment
GOALS from Luke Powell and James McCarten in either half helped Everton under-18s bounce back from their FA Youth Cup exit on Saturday.
Neil Dewsnip's side put their shoot-out disappointment against Norwich City in the cup behind them with a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Finch Farm on Saturday.
Everton, though, didn't start too well and had goalkeeper Adam Davies to thank for keeping them level. They fell behind following a Wolves free-kick five minutes before the break. But as half-time approached Everton equalised. Powell fired in after a neat turn.
Everton grew in confidence and had plenty of chances to take the lead with Conor McAleny hitting the bar.
McCarten hit the winner from close-range from a Shane Duffy nod-down on 70 minutes.
Dewsnip said: "It was a smashing game. A really good standard game and Wolves were excellent for 40 minutes. They were a goal up and good have been more expect for some excellent work from Adam Davies in goal, and some resilient defending at times particularly from Shane Duffy and James McCarten. Against the run of play we equalised and were quite fortunate to go in level. But talk about a game of two halves, in the second half we played really, really well and had lots of chances."
Dewsnip's side face arguably their toughest match when they take on leaders Manchester City at Finch Farm this Saturday (kick-off 11am). Everton missed out on the chance of playing City in the Youth Cup quarter-finals and Dewsnip said: "It will be the game we were hoping to play in the Youth Cup. It won't quite have that edge as it would have, but it will be a really good game, they are probably one of the two best teams we have played this season. It is a real big challenge."
Nathan Craig is still out with a back problem.
Lee McArdle was missing with a knee injury, and James Wallace was also out after picking up a knock in the reserves. Both may be fit to return.
EVERTON UNDER-18s: Davies; Nsiala (Barkley 60), Barnett, McCarten, Duffy; Forshaw, McCready, Kinsella, Bidwell; Powell (Codling 85), McAleny (Krenn 88). Subs: Stubhaug.
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