GOALS from Shkodran Mustafi, Shane Duffy and Ross Barkley put Everton through to the quarter-finals of the FA Youth for the first time in eight years as they beat Preston North End 2-0 at Deepdale last night.
Neil Dewsnip’s youngsters won away for the third round in a row in the Youth Cup and stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions.
They will again be on the road with a last-eight clash at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers, whom they face tomorrow in the FA Premier Academy League at Finch Farm.
Everton impressed from the start at Deepdale. Nathan Craig saw Lilywhites’ keeper Dominic Comrie punch his free-kick away after three minutes.
Preston, though, hit back and Everton were glad that Neil Dougan’s effort was ruled out for offside, while the Preston forward also headed against the woodwork soon after.
Everton skipper Jose Baxter fired over. But the visitors finally took the lead on the half-hour mark, when Adam Forshaw’s free-kick was headed towards goal by Duffy and German centre-back Shkodran Mustafi fired home.
On 37 minutes Baxter had a free-kick tipped over by Comrie, while at the other end Everton keeper Adam Davies saved from Proctor.
