Late Winner Denies Spirited Blues

A late goal saw Everton Under-21 fall to a narrow 4-3 defeat against Norwich in their final home game of the season on Monday night.

An end-to-end start to the game saw the visitors open the scoring within five minutes as Brandon Forbes’ half-volley arrowed in to the top corner. Martin Sherif restored parity for Everton six minutes later, nodding in from a couple of yards out.

The yellow and green shirts took the lead once more in the 29th minute through Toby Chilvers, who netted a header of his own. Lewis Shipley then doubled the away side’s lead in the first minute of first-half injury time.

The game concluded in a similar thrilling fashion to how it started. Two quickfire goals from George Morgan and Francis Gomez meant the hosts had equalised with 13 minutes remaining. The game was set for one last turn, though, with Finlay Corke netting the winner seven minutes from time.

Head coach Paul Tait made six changes to the side that cruised to a 4-1 victory over Warrington Rylands last time out.

Zan-Luk Leban was trusted in between the sticks, with a backline consisting of Roman Dixon, Aled Thomas, Reece Welch and Odin Samuels-Smith guarding his goal.

In front of them was deep-lying midfielder Jack Patterson – his inclusion enabling attack-minded duo Owen Barker and Callum Bates to operate higher up across the middle of the park.

Jacob Beaumont-Clark and Isaac Heath lined up on the wings, with Sherif leading the line.

The visitors opened the scoring with only five minutes on the clock as Forbes’ excellent finish nestled in to the top right corner. The ball fell to the Scot on the penalty spot after a dangerous set-piece from the left was only half-cleared.

The Blues reacted to the opener and came close themselves when Barker’s volley narrowly missed the target. The midfielder latched on to a lofted cross, but crucially failed to adjust in time, sending the ball sailing over the upright.

The action-packed start to the game continued, as Sherif headed home inside 11 minutes to notch his third from his last two games. The in-form man was found expertly by Beaumont-Clark – who dazzled his marker before sending a perfectly-weighted ball across the face of goal.

The Canaries came close to taking the lead once more on 25 minutes when AJ Bridge fired inches wide of the mark. Forbes’ tricky footwork saw him evade the challenge of Dixon before pulling it back to the midfielder. From the edge of the area, he set his sights, but saw his placed effort whisk wide.

Chilvers restored the visitors’ lead in the 29th minute. A sweeping team move saw Harmony Okwumo make space for a cross from the right. His pinpoint ball was well-met by the 17-year-old, who elegantly glanced the ball in to the top left corner.

Shipley doubled Olly Lee’s side’s advantage on the stroke of half-time. The defender blasted the ball past Leban following a goalmouth scramble caused by an inswinging corner.

Tait made three changes at the break, as George Morgan, Francis Gomez and Braiden Graham replaced Beaumont-Clark, Bates and Barker.

The trio rejuvenated the Toffees’ attack, with Sherif finding the back of the net once more just after the hour mark. However, the linesman swiftly raised his flag, denying the striker a consecutive brace.

A chaotic conclusion to the affair ensued, with two goals in two minutes levelling the scores in the 77th minute. Substitute Morgan turned home on 75 minutes after Heath’s cross was headed down by Welch.

Then, Gomez produced a moment of magic as his excellent half-volley from 25-yards-out rifled in to the top left corner, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.

The royal Blues’ joy was short-lived, though, as the Norfolk-outfit took the lead once more. It was Corke who wheeled away in celebration – the 17-year-old tapping home after Alex Roberts selflessly squared it to him.

The young Blues travel to the capital to face Tottenham Hotspur up next – hoping to conclude their league season in high spirits on Monday 14 April (7pm BST) before preparing for the Liverpool County Football Association Senior Cup final.