Second-Half Double Sees Under-21s Beat Brentford

Everton Under-21s recorded their first win of the new Premier League 2 season with a 2-0 victory at Brentford on Sunday.

The young Blues have been competing on multiple fronts in the opening weeks, with tests in the EFL Trophy, International Cup and National League Cup bookending their two league games so far.

And following a midweek win at Hartlepool United, Dave Hughes’ troops repeated the feat at Wheatsheaf Park thanks to second-half strikes from Melvin Matos and Malik Olayiwola.

It was a contest with no shortage of chances. Winger Justin Clarke was particularly lively before his withdrawal just before the break and crashed a shot against the post on 21 minutes, before Matos fired wide from Clarke’s cross moments later.

Freddie Murdock and Harvey Foster then both saw headers saved by Aiden Stokes. 



At the other end, skipper Luis Gardner twice crucially blocked efforts at goal, with George Pickford denying Isaac Holland when called upon.

Brentford’s best chance came minutes after the restart as Jai Nwosu was played in, but his shot struck the crossbar. The Bees then had a goal ruled out for offside and would soon be picking the ball out of their own net.



Murdock collected the ball on halfway, fed Rocco Lambert who squared on the edge of the box for the surging Matos. His strike took a wicked deflection and looped in to give the Toffees the lead.



Everton pushed for a second, with Foster having efforts saved and cleared off the line before his corner created the moment for substitute Olayiwola to clinch the contest.



Brentford couldn’t clear the deep delivery at the back post, gifting the ball for Olayiwola to rifle home with his right boot into the bottom corner.



Next up for the Under-21s is a trip to Reading on Saturday in Premier League 2 (12pm BST).