SECOND-HALF GOALS from Lewis Codling, Jack Rodwell and Tom McCready ensured Everton Youth team progressed to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.
They battled well to eventually run out comfortable 3-1 winners over Burnley at Accrington Stanley’s Fraser Eagle Stadium last night.
Neil Dewsnip’s side will now face another Coca-Cola Championship side, Norwich City, in the fifth round at Goodison Park next month as hopes of a lengthy cup run grow by the round.
Dewsnip said: “We were quite pleased with the first half that, although we know we could do better, we expected Burnley to come at us strongly and they did and we were happy to level at half-time. That was the game-plan to be nice and steady and to go for it in the second half and it worked out exactly. It doesn’t always go like that but it did tonight.
“I just thought we had a little bit more quality at times than they did and that was the difference.”
He added: “It was great to advance and great for the lads to get another go at Goodison Park.
“We don’t know too much about Norwich, because they are at the other end of the country. But they have won the last two games and they will be a threat. But we will do our homework and anybody on Goodison is a great tie to look forward to.”
Everton made several changes from their third-round victory and were able to call on two players who have performed well in David Moyes’s first team at times this season, in the fit-again forward Jose Baxter and England youth international defender Rodwell.
Both played their part in Everton’s victory with Bootle-born Baxter having a hand in the opener and Rodwell heading home the second goal.
Dewsnip added: “Without a doubt that gave us a bit more experience and quality. We were fortunate the way the fixtures worked out at the first team end to allow them to play a full game, which is good for their fitness levels.
“Whether it works out like that in the future remains to be seen. But it was great to have them with us and I thought both contributed really well.”
It was a physical battle early on with plenty of effort but little flowing football or clear-cut chances in an even first half. But Everton proved too strong after the break.
Nathan Craig’s cross from the left was only half-cleared by Burnley’s Christopher Lynch, but Hope Akpan scuffed his shot wide from 12 yards. While at the other end Christopher Anderson fired over from 30 yards out after Everton keeper Adam Davies, replacing Connor Roberts from the side who beat Nantwich in the last round, had punched clear.
But Everton almost took the lead after 13 minutes when Baxter flicked a great ball through to Codling but after turning Lynch, the Burnley defender recovered to block the striker’s shot.
Soon after Codling was also just inches away from connecting with Moses Barnett’s whipped-in cross.
The visitors almost took the lead midway through the half when a long, looping ball into the box by Shane Duffy was headed towards goal by Akpan. But a combination of Burnley goalkeeper Stefan Ritchie and defender Nikolaus Kudiersky managed to scramble the ball to safety.
Everton started the second half in determined mood, and Codling had a shot deflected wide when a pass to Baxter or Tom McCready might have been a better option. But the striker, who scored in the last round, did break the deadlock on 49 minutes.
Baxter’s snap-shot from just inside the area was too hot for Burnley keeper Ritchie to handle and as it bounced up off his chest Codling was on hand to head in from close range.
Everton doubled their lead on the hour when Rodwell rose at the far post to head home a pin-point free-kick from the left from McCready.
Five minutes later McAleny was inches away from his second, but his header from Duffy’s cross went wide as Everton threatened to run riot.
With 19 minutes left Everton made it 3-0. Left-back Moses Barnett charged to the byline and whipped over a superb cross that invited the in-rushing McCready to sweep in from close range.
But soon after Burnley pulled a goal back as a deep cross from was bundled in by Wesleigh Fletcher under pressure from Rodwell.
Burnley rallied late on but Everton stood up to the challenge with captain James McCarten and Rodwell and the rest of the back-line defending well under pressure.
BURNLEY YOUTH: Ritchie; Chaggar (Devenney 86), Lynch, Kudiersky, Brown; Knowles (Newman 66), Anderson, Harvey; Fletcher, Craggs. Subs: Woodhead, Devenney, Williams, Taylor.
EVERTON YOUTH: Davies; Duffy, Rodwell, McCarten, Barnett; McCready, Akpan, Wallace, Craig; Codling (Powell 85), Baxter. Subs: Bidwell, Roberts, Kinsella, McAleny. BOOKINGS: Wallace (foul), Akpan (foul).
REFEREE: Mr PP Davies. ATT: 478.
