Spot-kick sinks Everton

Sep 5 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON Reserves suffered their second successive defeat in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League Northern Section after a late penalty earned Sunderland the points at the Halton Stadium.

Andy van der Meyde started alongside debutant goalkeeper Stefan Wessels following his move from FC Koln.

Sunderland fielded a strong side which included former Manchester United and Fulham striker Andrew Cole and ex-Leeds defender Ian Harte. However it was youngster Lukas Jutkiewicz who opened the scoring giving Everton the lead on 18 minutes when he hit a fantastic shot past Darren Ward in the visitors’ goal.

Sunderland gave warning that they would get back into the game as Dennehy hit the bar and with a minute remaining in the first half they equalised.

David Connolly forced the ball home from Kavanagh’s pass. Everton looked like taking the lead in the second half again but Kieren Agard’s effort was cleared off the line.

Sunderland snatched victory with three minutes remaining when Bjarni Vidarsson handled in the box and Connolly scored the resulting penalty.

EVERTON RESERVES: Wessels; Densmore, Sinnott, Irving, Boyle; Vidarsson, van der Meyde, Morrison, Kissock; Agard, Jutkiewicz. Subs: Spencer, Jones, Downes, Harpur, McCarten.

SUNDERLAND RESERVES: Ward; Weir, Harte (Dowson), Hartley, Donoghue; Kavanagh, O’Donovan, Richardson, Cole (Liddle 66); Connolly, Dennehy. Subs: Chandler, Kay, Luscombe.