Codling key in youngsters’ win

Sep 25 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

KIERAN AGARD’S last-minute winner maintained Everton under-18s unbeaten start to the season as they beat Sunderland 2-1 at Netherton.

Neil Dewsnip’s side recorded their fifth win in the opening six games in what has been a superb start to the campaign

On Saturday they had to come back from a goal down to triumph. The visitors took the lead after just four minutes with a long-range strike. And despite having plenty of the play it took until the 70th minute for Everton to equalise.

Lewis Codling broke through onto Austrian midfielder George Krenn’s through ball to lift over the Sunderland keeper for his fourth goal of the season and his third in the last three.

Codling had a hand in Agard winner. His initial header from Tom McCready’s corner hit the bar, but Londoner Agard was on hand to turn the rebound into the back of the net.

Coach Dewsnip said: “Up to a point it was another good performance. They had lost heavily the week before and came out in determined mood. They did a lot better than we did in the first half.

“But in the second half we got things sorted out, regrouped and did a lot better. After we equalised both teams had half chances, but we managed to grab the winner at the end. We won a game that to be fair I am not so sure we did enough to win.

“Mentally they are very strong, and very resilient. That is three weeks in a row we have conceded the first goal and gone on to win, which bucks statistical trends. So they have obviously got a bit of bottle about them both individually and as a group, which bodes well for their future careers. That is very positive.”

Dewsnip added: “We had players out through injury and I was delighted with the boys who came. Lee McCardle is a schoolboy, who came in for his full debut and did exceedingly well. So positives do come out about maybe not your best performance.”

Everton will bid to continue their unbeaten start at Wolverhampton this Saturday (kick-off 12.30pm). Dewsnip said: “We would hope to continue our unbeaten start, with maybe a bit better football. You can always improve. There are plenty of things to work on.”

EVERTON UNDER-18s: Stubhaug; Stewart, McCardle, McCarten, Barnett: O’Kane, Krenn, Redmond (McCready 25), Codling; Baxter (Sheppard 90), Agard