Unbeaten record ends for Everton

Oct 9 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON under-18s lost their first game of the season as Manchester City won the Premier Academy League Group A top-of-the-table clash 1-0 at Netherton on Saturday.

In a close match Neil Dewsnip’s side failed to maintain their unbeaten start despite having a few chances to at least take a point.

City scored what turned out to be the winner just before half-time when they picked up on a loose ball and went on to fire past Everton goalkeeper Michael McEntagart from 20-yards.

Early in the second half Everton came close to an equalise, Eunan O’Kane firing narrowly wide, while substitute Kieran Agard shot over the bar with another effort.

At the other end Australian keeper McEntagart saved from a free-kick and Cory Sinnott cleared off the line to keep Everton in the match. However, in the end City claimed all three points to stay top of the table.

Coach Dewsnip was disappointed, but was pleased with his side’s performance.

He said: “They started very well and all credit to them. They played well and had a couple of half chances, but didn’t really threaten us. Ironically just after we got a foothold in the game we made a very poor passing error in the middle of the field and they ran through and scored. For much of the match it was ‘even-Steven’, but we missed two great chances.

“We are disappointed to lose, but it was a match between two very organised teams with chances at a premium.”

Dewsnip added: “It was just a good standard youth game and a great advert for Academy football. Hopefully some players from either side will come out of that eventually.

“Hopefully in the future our players will experience that – big games like that – and they can learn for it.”

Everton will look to get back to winning ways following their first defeat of the campaign when they at Crewe Alexandra this Saturday (kick-off 11am).

EVERTON UNDER-18s: McEntagart; Stewart, Molyneux, McCarten, Sinnott; Krenn (Agard 60), Rodwell, O’Kane, McCready (Sheppard 80); Baxter, Codling. Subs: Stubhaug, Rodwell.