Under-21s Beat Tamworth 3-2 In Entertaining Cup Clash

Everton Under-21s won their final National League Cup game at Tamworth on Tuesday evening, edging out the hosts by the odd goal in a 3-2 victory.

The tie was effectively a dead rubber as neither side could qualify from the group stage, so all credit to both sets of players for providing an entertaining contest.

Ramell Carter had a couple of early efforts for Tamworth. First, he cut inside from the right wing and tested Fraser Barnsley from outside the box, the Blues keeper making a good stop, before poking another effort wide on 10 minutes.

At the other end, Braiden Graham did well to control a bouncing ball on the artificial surface, but his eventual effort was off-target.

The 18th-minute opening Everton goal was a cracker. Harvey Foster guided the ball into the path of George Finney on the right and the full-back gave the home keeper Rhys Lovett absolutely no chance with a blistering drive from the edge of the box.

The response took six minutes and, unsurprisingly, it came from Carter who once again created space for himself from a wide area and this time Barnsley could not keep it out.

The advantage was restored in the 33rd minute and it was another nice goal. Graham dribbled into the penalty area and teed up Francis Gomez with an opening that he calmly accepted, slotting home from close range.

There was very nearly another instant reply, but Barnsley saved well to deny Oliver Dyson and then just before half-time Daniel Creaney hacked wildly over from close-range.

The first attempt of the second half came from Graham, but he didn’t generate sufficient power from 18 yards to really test Lovett.

Carter, Tamworth’s teenage loanee from Hull City, certainly did shortly after when he smashed his second goal of the night past Barnsley to restore parity.

On 57, a superb throw out from Barnsley released Ceiran Loney on the right and the big striker slid a neat pass into the path of Omari Benjamin who forced a fine save from the keeper.

But it was not long before Everton went back in front when Graham’s effort clipped a Tamworth defender and looped over Lovett into the net on the hour.

The Blues were indebted to Barnsley in the 73rd minute when he made a splendid diving save to keep out a Daniel Creaney header and a couple of minutes later he did even better to deny TJ Bramble after Everton had surrendered possession cheaply in a dangerous area.

Next to be frustrated by the excellent keeper was Hutchinson, whose effort was arrowing towards the top corner before Barnsley pushed the ball over the crossbar.

Graham came within a fraction of a fourth Everton goal when he pulled an angled shot narrowly wide with five minutes to go and then in added time he broke clear and fed the ball to Harvey Foster who could only fire his effort high over the bar.

Head of Academy Player Development Dave Hughes told evertonfc.com: "It was very entertaining and we tried to sell it to the players around the fact that we’ve given a good account of ourselves in the tournament, with the probable exception of Solihull.

"The guys were saying that they came (to Tamworth) last season and didn’t perform anywhere near the level they should have done so our message was to prove to people that you’re progressing and evolving and that last year was just an error. So we’re really pleased with them.

"Some of the younger guys came on and experienced a different type of football – Lewis Evans, Amari Moses, Kai Hutchison – loads of learning for them.

"It was physical but that’s what the game looks like. Some of our players who are out on loan are experiencing that. Everything goes into the box, every set-play or long throw goes in.

"Fraser Barnsley was excellent in goal and made three unbelievable saves and set off a couple of counter-attacks with positive distribution.

"We've finished third in the group and we’ve been super competitive against the men’s teams that we’ve played."