David Unsworth said his Everton Under-23s team “moved up a couple of levels” after they scored two second-half goals to earn a 2-0 win at National League Chorley on Tuesday night.
An own goal from Chorley stopper Joe Anson and late strike from substitute Manasse Mampala – his second in his many matches – saw the young Blues secure victory.
Unsworth said the performance was his side's best of their pre-season programme so far, with the young Blues having previously been edged out by League Two outfits Swindon Town and Morecambe.
“It was a great workout in a tough, proper game,” said Unsworth.
“Chorley is a team I know very well, with it being my home town, and they are a good team.
“They were very competitive, but we stepped up a couple of levels tonight and I am a lot happier with the performance.
“We played some good football and knocked the ball about really well. Defensively we were really solid. There’s still an awful lot of work to do with this new group but I am very happy tonight.”
Everton made a terrific start and peppered the home goal during the early exchanges.
Ryan Astley crossed from the right for Ellis Simms to glance a header just wide of the far post.
Simms then teed up Anthony Gordon whose fine effort from 20-yards was inches too high, before Mo Besic forced home keeper Anson into a smart low save – all inside the opening eight minutes.
The Blues continued to dominate the half against a Chorley side that will be in the fifth tier of English football this season after securing promotion to the National League in May.
On 27 minutes, Gordon twisted cleverly away from his marker inside the area, but his effort was pushed away by Anson.
The busy Anson also did really well to save a well-struck, first-time half-volley from Fraser Hornby after 34 minutes.
Hornby then had a great chance on the stroke of half-time when he got on the end of a lovely long ball from Besic but he just failed to control his finish.
Everton, for whom Besic played an hour, continued to cary the greater threat after the break but Chorley defended resolutely.
Last season’s Premier League Cup final goalscoring hero Morgan Feeney almost did it again just after the hour mark but his header from an Antony Evans free-kick took a deflection and looped just over the bar.
When the opening goal did arrive, Evans was the architect. After sending in a cross from the right, Chorley goalkeeper Anson stopped to smother the ball but fumbled into into his own net.
Chorley almost levelled in the 72nd minute when a ferocious drive from James Hooper fizzed past Nico Hansen and just cleared the target.
Hooper repeated the dose shortly after, but this time Hansen made a good stop.
Victory was secured with eight minutes left when Mampala guided his header from a left-wing corner past replacement keeper Danny Eccles and into the net.
It was a fine win for a team that is still gelling together.
“We can’t expect them to be firing on the cylinders that we were at the end of last season,” Unsworth added.
“It’s a different set of players, we’re starting again but we’re moving in the right direction.”
Next up for Unsworth and his team is a trip to FAW Championship North & Mid team Rhyl on Saturday (3pm).
