Everton second string sink strong City side

Oct 10 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON Reserves earned a creditable victory against a much stronger Manchester City side at the Halton Stadium in the FA Premier Reserve League Northern Section under the watchful eye of manager David Moyes.

Former Everton defender Michael Ball and Sun Jihai were in the visitors’ line-up as Andy Holden fielded a young side.

A first half of virtually no chances went by, with a few long-range efforts at both ends the only notable action.

The second period was better and Everton began to control the game with John Paul Kissock in particular making a nuisance of himself on the left-wing.

Aidan Downes had a couple of shots saved by Kasper Schmeichel in the City goal but eventually his persistence paid off.

On the hour mark a long free-kick was headed down by Lucas Jutkiewicz for Downes to cleverly move to one side and finish well.

Everton then made a couple of substitutions. One of them, Kieran Agard, was in the right place at the right time to slide the ball home on 78 minutes.

Sam Williamson nearly caught out Everton keeper John Ruddy with a cross-cum-shot but apart from that City failed to trouble the shot-stopper.

EVERTON RES: Ruddy, Densmore, Boyle, Irving, Dennehy (Molynuex 89), Rodwell, Morrison (Agard 74), Vidarsson, Jutkiewicz, Downes (Harpur 74), Kissock. Subs: Jones, Molyneux, Spencer.

MANCHESTER CITY RES: Schmeichel, Logan, Williamson, M Ball, Breen, Jihai, Ethu, Grimes, Evans, Dabo (D Ball 79), Clayton (Daly79) Subs: Mentel, Vidal, Marshall.