Under-18s: Everton v United

It was a rapid start for Adam Lawrence's side, setting the tone for a dominant performance to come. Ashton Missin seized the ball deep in our half and charged through the centre of the park, before passing out wide to James Scanlon on the edge of the box, who hit a shot to the far post and out of the grasp of George Pickford to make it 1-0.

Our lead was doubled with just over 15 minutes on the clock, as the referee awarded us a penalty for a Coby Ebere handball following a short-corner routine. Gabriele Biancheri duly stepped up to convert the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in the process.

United saw of lot of the ball in the remaining minutes of the first period, with our first goalscorer Scanlon going close twice just before the break.

After we saw the majority of the ball in the first half, our hosts came out with more intent following the interval, creating some chances of their own and stifling much of United's attacking play. 

We managed to reassert our early control of the game midway through the second half, but were unable to breach the compact Everton defence for a third time, despite some solid periods of possession. 

The encounter concluded in a steady rhythm. Clear-cut chances being scarce at both ends in this half meant that the early double was enough to secure our 10th U18 Premier League win in a row.

MATCH DETAILS 

United: Myles; Devaney, Munro, Kingdon, Amass (Ogunneye 45); McAllister, Baumann; Missin (Williams 61), J. Fletcher (Sharpe 45), Scanlon (Jackson 87); Biancheri.

Substitutes not used: Harrison.

Goals: Scanlon 3, Biancheri 17 (pen).