ACADEMY: Agard on target as Everton hit back

Dec 18 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

KIERAN AGARD helped Everton under-18s bounce back swiftly from their FA Youth Cup defeat as they beat Stoke City 2-1 at Netherton on Saturday.

Neil Dewsnip’s side were disappointed to have gone out of the prestigious youth tournament with a 2-0 Goodison Park defeat to Bristol City in midweek, but they showed no lasting damage had been done to their confidence as the Stoke keeper fumbled into his own net before London-born forward Agard added a second.

A late Stoke strike proved little more than a consolation as Everton continued their fine Premier Academy League form to collect three points.

Lewis Codling had a goal disallowed and went close on a couple of occasions as Everton pressed for the opener in the first half. His fellow striker Luke Powell also went close, but Dewsnip’s couldn’t find a way past the Stoke keeper.

But, after a goalless first half, Everton finally opened the scoring 10 minutes after the half-time interval, when Danny Redmond’s corner was initially caught by the visitors’ keeper before he fumbled and dropped the ball into his own net.

Everton doubled their lead five minutes later when Agard got in on goal from Hope Akpan’s pass before coolly slotting in for his sixth Academy League strike this season.

Stoke reduced the arrears after a corner was only cleared to the edge of the box and they fired in with seven minutes left, but Everton held on.

Coach Dewsnip said: “It was a terrific response following the Youth Cup defeat. One of two lads who were ill in midweek were back with us and that helped a little bit.

“We were delighted to win the game. It showed a great character which is pretty much what they have shown all year.”

Everton are back in Academy League action in the New Year when they travel to take on West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, January 5 (kick-off 11am).

EVERTON UNDER-18s: Stubhaug; Stewart, McCarten, Rodwell, Barnett; Redmond, McCready, O’Kane, Akpan; Codling (Sheppard 70), Powell (Agard 55). Subs: McCardle, Baxter.