Under-18s: United edge a thriller at Everton

Deji Sotona claimed two of the goals, the second from the penalty spot, and Anthony Elanga got the other with a great individual strike.

United went into this game on Merseyside with confidence booming after claiming the team's biggest win of the campaign so far, 4-0, against Sunderland at the Academy of Light on Saturday. And although top spot in the Under-18 Premier League North may elude the young Reds this time around, Neil Ryan's side are still involved in the FA Youth Cup, which is always a prize cherished by our club.

Everton have enjoyed a good season at this level and entered this match in third place, level on points with neighbours Liverpool, who are in second spot courtesy of a slightly better goal difference.

Remarkably, United in eighth position had the same defensive record as the high-flying hosts - with 30 conceded in the fifteen games completed so far. However, the Blues had more in the goals-for column, hence their higher ranking in the division.

Reds coach Ryan rang the changes in making his team selection ahead of this game, with only four survivors from Saturday's victory on Wearside. Lukasz Bejger, Reece Devine, Deji Sotona and Anthony Elanga were the quartet of players charged with playing their second fixture in four days.

It didn’t need a clairvoyant or a crystal ball to predict that this test against Everton would be a tad more difficult to that encountered at the weekend. The Toffees' youth teams were always a tough proposition at their old Bellefield training centre and nothing has changed on that front since their move to Finch Farm.

Sure enough, the home side, wearing their famous dark blue shirts, made several promising sorties up field in the opening moments. The aptly-named striker Tom Cannon could have broken the deadlock with a touch more accuracy and Lewis Dobbin also threatened to breach United's defence during that early flurry of activity.

However, it was the Reds who were the first to taste success in front of goal. The opener arrived shortly before the half-hour mark when Lukasz Bejger joined the attack with a sprint down the right before crossing on the run. The area was well populated with blue shirts but it was Sotona who reached the ball first to force it over the line.

That quick double blast had put the Reds well in charge but with slightly over twenty minutes to go, Cannon found a way past Mastny to revive Everton's hopes. However, that was where the scoring ended and Ryan's side ultimately returned to Manchester with three more well-earned points on the board.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Mastny; Bejger, Mengi, Hardley, Devine (Fish 45); Svidersky, Mejbri (McCann 79), Helm; Shoretire, Sotona, Elanga (Wellens 70).

Substitutes: Mee, Forson.

Goals: Everton - Onyango 50, Cannon 69 | United - Sotona 29, 66 pen, Elanga 59.

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