Everton Res v Sunderland Res

Everton's reserves were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland reserves on a wintry night that saw Jose Baxter fail to score from the penalty spot.

Cody Arnoux helped the Blues claw their way back into the game equalising after the visitors took the lead against the run of play.

Baxter had the perfect opportunity to put Andy Holden's side in front in the first half after his cross was handled in the box and the ref pointed to the spot.

The striker's penalty though failed to give the Blues the lead and was saved by Trevor Carson, the ball heading straight down the centre of goal and easily rolling into the keeper's arms.

To adds to the Blues' woes, just seconds before the half time whistle Sunderland made Everton pay for their failure to convert the spot kick and snatched the lead through Robbie Weir.

The young striker fired the ball into the back of the net over the top of Blues keeper Carlo Nash to put the visitors in front.

Everton started the second half brightly keeping possession, Cody Arnoux soon equalising with a cooly taken shot on 53 minutes.

The American striker had the chance to double the Blues' tally moments later but skimmed the side netting.

Baxter also had a number of good chances to put the Blues in front, two shots pinging of the post in quick succession, before he was substituted on 66 minutes.

With the action hotting up, Carlo Nash pulled off a superb save diving to his right to punch Sunderland's second half effort clear and keep the score level to earn the Blues a point.

Everton's reserves next game is away against Burnley Reserves on Monday 30 November.