Everton Res v Sheff Utd
Everton Reserves drew 1-1 with Sheffield United at The Halton Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The match was a thoroughly entertaining affair with both sides playing some fine creative football.
There was certainly no danger of James McFadden taking things easy ahead of Scotland’s vital Euro 2008 qualifier against France on Saturday. He was constantly looking for the ball and made several aggressive runs at the visiting defence.
Everton nearly took the lead in the 15th minute when a right-wing cross from Andy van der Meyde was headed against the crossbar by Victor Anichebe.
The big striker was also denied by a smart save from former Everton goalkeeper, Paul Gerrard, mid-way through the half.
Gerrard is contracted to the Yorkshire outfit until at least January and he gave an excellent display.
On the stroke of half-time he dived to his right to make a brilliant save to keep out a well struck McFadden free-kick and when Bjarni Vidarsson tried to knock the rebound into the net he, too, was denied by the Blades keeper.
United, unbeaten so far in the Reserve League, posed threats of their own and Iain Turner was also in fine form.
He made a sharp block to deny Danny Webber and then did very well to turn over a powerful header from the experienced defender Chris Lucketti.
The second period was every bit as lively.
Anichebe’s rising shot cleared the bar on 56 minutes and then Gerrard saved well again to keep out an effort from James Vaughan.
The Toffees took the lead on the hour when Mark Hughes timed his run into the penalty area perfectly to crash home a wonderfully flighted free-kick delivered by Andy van der Meyde.
The Dutchman was a constant thorn in the United defence and he was inches away from scoring himself when he curled a terrific shot around his marker, past the keeper but just wide of the post.
As arranged beforehand, McFadden was withdrawn with 25 minutes and he will have been extremely pleased with his contribution...as will both David Moyes and Walter Smith.
David Weir joined his fellow international in the dressing room just five minutes later, just after the Blades equaliser.
David Sommeil’s low shot from the edge of the box may well have been covered by Turner had it not taken a slight deflection on its way through.
Both sides pressed to try and secure all three points and Hughes almost scored again when his powerful header from a John-Paul Kissock corner flashed wide of the target and a stoppage time volley from Vaughan wasn't too far away either.
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