Coby Ebere hit a second-half equaliser as Everton drew 1-1 with Southampton in their Under-18 Premier League Cup group tie at Finch Farm on Saturday.

Both sides had opportunities to win the game but a point apiece was probably a fair outcome.

The Saints started on the front foot. Samuel Amo-Ameyaw drilled a direct free-kick narrowly wide, Kamari Doyle forced Dylan Graham into an excellent save and Sonnie Davis had a fierce drive blocked.

The Blues played their way into the game and had chances of their own.

Ebere’s low effort was saved by Adli Mohamed, who then did well to also deny Halid Djankpata.

Then Jack Tierney’s far-post header was off target, but the angle was always against him.

Doyle should have put Southampton ahead on 24 minutes, but he pulled a poor effort wide when one-on-one with Graham and then Tierney’s perfectly-timed challenge inside the box stopped Dominic Ballard in his tracks.

Ebere tested the keeper again just after the half-hour with a well-struck shot from long distance, and at the other end Graham dived low to his left to palm away an effort from Amo-Ameyaw.

Early in the second period, Matthew Apter had an opening from the edge of the box but shot tamely at the keeper and, on 52 minutes, Saints took the lead when Ballard ran on to a through ball and clipped it past Graham.

Doyle came close to making it two shortly after as the visitors threatened to take control of the match.

Everton levelled just before hour. Jack Patterson won a strong tackle in midfield and when the ball bounced through to the feet of Ebere, he crashed it past the keeper.

The contest opened up nicely with some good end-to-end football.

Djankpata smacked a shot straight at Mohamed at one end and then Harry Wright cleared a Ballard effort off the line. The lively Djankapa also tried his luck from 25 yards but missed the target and Doyle was also wide with a late shot.