EVERTON cruelly went out of the FA Youth Cup last night after suffering penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Norwich City in the fifth round at the Stobart Stadium in Widnes.
Visiting keeper Declan Rudd saved three of Everton’s spot-kicks as the Canaries won the shoot-out 3-1.
After a goalless 90 minutes both sides traded blows in extra-time, with Lee McArdle’s superb free-kick being cancelled out by Tom Adeyemi’s equaliser.
Then in the shoot-out despite Tom McCready scoring Everton’s first kick, Rudd saved from Jake Bidwell, Shane Duffy and Jose Baxter.
Neil Dewsnip’s side suffered a blow before kick-off as left-winger Nathan Craig, who had scored in the 3-2 derby victory over Liverpool at the weekend, was injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Bidwell.
Bidwell started well and from a strong run in the seventh minute he forced a corner. From McCready’s corner Duffy – who hit the weekend derby match-winner – flicked the ball on but Lewis Codling just failed to connect.
Bidwell was again involved, but from his pass midfielder Hope Akpan was denied by Norwich keeper Rudd.
At the other end the lively Korey Smith had a shot well saved by Everton keeper Adam Davies on the half-hour.
Four minutes after the break Norwich almost took the lead, but Everton were saved by the woodwork. After capitalising on a Moses Barnett mistake Josh Dawkins crashed a shot onto the bar and thankfully it bounced down on the right side of the goal-line as far as Everton were concerned before being cleared.
James Wallace went close just before the hour, while Danny Kelly also hit a post for the Canaries.
Neither side, though, could find the breakthrough in the 90 minutes, and like David Moyes’s first team the previous night Everton were forced into extra-time.
Five minutes in Luke Powell struck the post after combining with fellow substitute Conor McAleny.
Just before the half-time break in extra-time Everton took the lead. McArdle's blistering free-kick from 25 yards flew past Rudd. But on 111 minutes Everton keeper Davies let Adeyemi’s shot go straight through his legs.
Neither side could fashion a winner in the remaining moments and a shoot-out was needed.
Norwich prevailed 3-1 as Everton missed out on a quarter-final trip to Manchester City.
EVERTON YOUTH: Davies; McArdle (Kinsella 110), McCarten, Duffy, Barnett; McCready (McAleny 87), Akpan, Wallace, Bidwell; Baxter, Codling (Powell 62). Subs: Roberts.
NORWICH CITY YOUTH: Rudd; Francombe, Omuregie (Clarke 105), Dumic, Habergham (Brindley 90), Davey, Stephens, Adeyemi, Dawkin; Kelly, Smith. Subs: Steer, Reeves, Oakley.
