Young guns who could fire forward for Blues

DOUBLE DEFEAT BUT ACADEMY STARS ARE SHOWING POTENTIAL

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

EVERTON’S academy sides have had a brace of cup ties over the past week but despite exiting both competitions, the matches have been a valuable learning curve for the Blues’ young prospects.

Firstly, last Friday, Keith Southern’s Under-18s went to the Joie Stadium to face Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the FA Youth Cup.

Everton went toe-to-toe with their hosts for almost an hour, but things went downhill quickly for the visitors after referee Richie Watkins awarded a controversial penalty following Ademide Akarakiri’s challenge on Floyd Samba when the Blues player appeared to win the ball.

Samba recovered quickly enough to convert the spot-kick himself and despite their stern resistance up until that point, the frustrated Blues had Malik Olayiwola sent off soon afterwards.

With their opponents reduced to 10 men, City took control, adding a second goal through Reigan Heskey before substitute Teddy Lamb added a third.

Southern told the ECHO: “We were absolutely more than a match for Manchester City until the penalty decision.

“We were well in the game and I thought we gave a really good account of ourselves, we went toe-to-toe with City until that decision.

“T think it was a poor decision. I think we were let down in that regard, it was quite cruel.

“We then had the double whammy of a player not responding in the right fashion has also hurt us by him being sent off the pitch”

Paul Tait's Under-21 also paid the penalty against Borussia Dortmund in their Premier League international Cup quarterfinal at Walton Hall Park.

This time there were no complaints after Aled Thomas’ challenge on Osumane Diallo in the 57th minute saw visiting captain Tony Reitz convert from the spot before Almugera Kabar sealed the German side’s progress to the last four with a low drive in stoppage time.