Under-21s Start Premier League 2 Season With Late Win

A late own goal from Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Felix Goddard secured a deserved victory for Everton's Under-21s in the opening Premier League 2 game of the season at Walton Hall Park.

Jacob Beaumont-Clark's effort from the edge of the box caught the inside of the post and rebounded into the net off the back of the unfortunate Goddard, but the goal was just reward for Everton as they got their league campaign up and running.

Defender Eli Campbell made his first appearance for the Under-21s in nearly a year following his loan spell at Ross County, lining up at centre-half alongside Will Tamen who took the captain’s armband for the second game in succession.

Braiden Graham made his first start of the season after netting a fine brace off the bench at Solihull Moors in the National League Cup last week and very nearly got the Blues off the mark in the second half, crashing an 18-yard effort off the crossbar after some neat build-up play from the Blues.

It took until the 85th minute for Everton, on top throughout, to open the scoring. Odin Samuels-Smith won possession with a well-timed sliding challenge on the left allowing Jack Patterson to release Isaac Heath down the flank.

Last season’s Under-21 Player of the Year cut a neat ball back to Beaumont-Clark on the edge of the box, who made sure of the points with his curled effort that ricocheted into the back of the net off Goddard.

“The first half wasn’t great, and we were a little unhappy with our work both in and out of possession,” said Tait. “George Pickford made a good save in the first half and we got into good areas without really threatening their goal.

“We made a couple of changes at half-time – Callum Bates took an impact to the knee and Francis Gomez came on, and Eli has only just come back from injury himself so we gave him 45 minutes and brought Aled Thomas on for him.

“Callum and Eli had done very well but Francis and Aled really helped us in the second half. We were more of a threat and should have scored three or four.

“Justin Clarke got in behind them a few times and caused problems – it was just that final ball that was lacking and our finishing wasn’t clinical enough, really.

“Braiden hit the bar with a great shot in around the 70th minute and we were knocking on the door from there – then Jacob got the goal that we deserved and from there we controlled the game more.”

Tait also confirmed that Kingsford Boakye, who was forced off in the 2-1 win over Solihull Moors last week, is likely to be out for around two months with a hamstring injury.

The Under-21s return to Walton Hall Park on Friday 22 August (7pm kick-off), hosting Fulham in their second Premier League 2 game of the season.