Everton Under-18s defeated Leeds United Under-18s 4-1 at the Yorkshire outfit’s training ground in the Under-18 Premier League North on Saturday afternoon.
Coby Ebere extended his scorching goalscoring run to eleven goals in his past eight games by completing a superb hat-trick.
Jacob Beaumont-Clark got on the scoresheet by tapping-in after great pressure led by Martin Sherif saw the forward rob the hosts of possession inside their own area.
Rob Etherington’s side scored a consolation goal late on as Harry Gray’s cross hit a blue shirt and rolled in.
Head Coach Leighton Baines made two changes to the side that beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 on Tuesday as George Finney and Sherif came into the starting XI.
The Blues threatened early and were inches away from breaking the deadlock inside five minutes. Harvey Foster found Finney out wide, who played Beaumont-Clark in. The winger cut in and rifled a strike at goal. His effort was partially blocked by Alfie Cresswell and rattled the near post.
The Toffees came close once more in the 15th minute as Alex Baird made a fingertip save to deny Ebere. Found by Callum Bates, the in-form forward released a curling strike that seemed destined for the far corner. The hosts’ number one leapt into action to palm the ball around the post and exert the pressure off his side.
The shot-stopper was called into action moments later, keeping out Sherif on this occasion. The Leeds backline failed to clear a dangerous ball lofted in by Foster, with the striker firing at goal from inside the area. The keeper got down well to his right to make another fine save.
Beaumont-Clark arrowed an effort over the bar on the half-hour mark as the Everton dominance continued. Jack Patterson intercepted a cross-field ball in the middle of the park and fed the ball to the left-winger who raced at goal centrally before narrowly missing the target.
The visitors were rewarded for their impressive start as Ebere netted his 11th goal in eight games on 33 minutes. A clinical counter started by keeper George Pickford saw Baines’ side turn defence into attack in a matter of seconds.
The shot-stopper caught a cross from a corner and immediately released the advancing Patterson. The skipper played the ball to Ebere, who ran at the Whites’ backline before curling the ball into the far-corner to break the deadlock.
Sherif almost doubled the visitors’ lead on the stroke of half-time, but Baird came to Leeds’ rescue again. The 17-year-old headed the ball into the ground after being found by Finney on the right-flank, but failed to beat the No.1.
Beamont-Clark tapped-in four minutes after the interval after great pressure from Sherif saw him dispossess Joe Billett inside the area. The Dutchman then selflessly squared to the 18-year-old who slotted the ball home.
Ebere added a third on the hour mark, picking up the ball inside the area and firing past the outstretched keeper. The forward received the ball and feinted several times before pulling the trigger and finding the top-left corner.
The man of the moment then completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute by slotting the ball past Baird at the near post. Patterson played a perfectly-weighted through ball to Ebere, who beat the keeper one-on-one to secure the match ball.
Leeds got one back on 75 minutes as Gray’s deflected cross wrong-footed Pickford and crept in.
Attention now turns to the Merseyside derby on Saturday 13 April, 11am (GMT).
By Ross Hughes
