Everton Under-18s were narrowly edged out 1-0 at Premier League (North) leaders Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
Joel Ndala scored the only goal of the match in the 32nd minute to condemn the young Toffees to defeat on the road.
Everton fought hard in a match which was largely dominated by the hosts, and Blues goalkeeper Patrick Nash was outstanding, producing a string of fine saves.
City had the better of the first half, but Everton started brightly and could have gone ahead on two different occasions within the opening 10 minutes.
First, Isaac Heath raced towards goal before teeing up Martin Sherif in the area, but the striker’s shot was blocked.
Then, just two minutes later, Heath showed tenacity to nick the ball off a defender and bear down on goal, but the hosts got players back in the time to usher the forward away from danger.
Nash, who was faultless between the sticks, somehow managed to deny Will Dickson what looked a certain goal on 12 minutes – the Blues keeper instinctively diving low to thwart Dickson from just yards out.
City increased the pressure on the Blues midway through the first half and struck the post through Liam Smith in the 25th minute.
Nash was then forced into a magnificent reflex stop as Dickson again powered towards the Everton goal, but the young keeper displayed a fine save.
On 32 minutes, however, City took the lead through Ndala – Nash able to turn the shot onto the inside of the upright but unfortunate to see the ball trickle in.
Everton were indebted to their number one that the score remained 1-0 at the break, as Nash produced another tremendous stop to prevent Kian Breckin.
Paul Tait’s side had a glorious chance to equalise just after the break when Emilio Lawrence found space down the Everton right, but the forward’s shot dragged agonisingly wide.
Lawrence again almost restored parity on 64 minutes, his effort taking a deflection but the City keeper managed to keep it out.
City created plenty of chances in the second half but Nash continued to keep Everton in the match.
He saved from Josh Adam on 73 minutes before goalscorer Ndala rattled the post moments later.
Toffees manager Tait introduced substitute Francis Okoronkwo who was lively and was at the centre of a flurry of late Everton chances.
First, cutting inside and rifling goalwards, and despite initially letting go of the ball, City keeper George Murray-Jones grabbed the ball at the second time of asking, with Everton forwards waiting for a tap-in.
Minutes later, Okoronkwo powered into the side netting with his left foot after a positive run into the box.
It looked as though Everton had nicked a point at the death when Sherif turned on the edge of the box and hit a deflected shot, which after an age in the air, looped millimetres wide.
From the resulting corner, confusion ensued as the referee blew the full-time whistle with the ball still loose in the box.
Okoronkwo thundered the crossbar but the referee signalled that time was up.
The defeat left Everton ninth in the Premier League (North) table as they return to action tomorrow at home to Middlesbrough (4pm GMT).
