ACADEMY NEWS

Ebere Double Earns Everton Under-18s Last-Gasp Draw

Coby Ebere's second-half double - including an injury-time leveller - saw Everton Under-18s hit back to earn a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in their season finale at Finch Farm.

Leighton Baines' side showed great resolve to respond from 2-0 down at half-time as Ebere levelled three minutes after the restart before the forward capped the comeback with a 94th-minute equaliser.

The result sealed a fine end to the campaign for the Under-18s as they finished fourth in Premier League (North).

Due to a fixture rescheduling, this was the second time Everton faced United in the space of four days, with Tuesday's clash at Carrington ending 1-1.

Just seven minutes were on the clock when the visitors took the lead on Saturday. Adam Berry swung a cross into the penalty area and Ethan Wheatley headed past Blues keeper Seb Jensen.

Everton responded well to the setback, though, and had a flurry of chances as they went searching for a response.

First, a promising move through the thirds nearly created the leveller. Martin Sherif shrugged off a United centre-back before pulling the ball back to Joshua Van Schoor, but the substitute’s effort flew over the top.

The Blues then began to test United goalkeeper Elyh Harrison who was forced into a string of saves.

Ebere latched onto a Jacob Beaumont-Clark cut inside before driving an effort towards goal that was kept out by the feet of Harrison.

Beaumont-Clark then had an effort of his own as he played a neat one-two with Sherif to create some space and keep Harrison on his toes.

Everton skipper Matthew Apter was driving his team forward well and came close to scoring himself, drilling an effort narrowly wide of the post with the help of a slight deflection.

Somehow, Everton were not on the scoresheet and were cruelly punished on the stroke of half-time.

Jaydan Kamason drilled a ball right across the face of the goal for the visitors, and it unfortunately diverted off Bradley Moonan and into the net.

Head Coach Baines changed the formation at half-time and it paid immediate dividends.

Beaumont-Clark had a huge opportunity to find a response, but his effort from six yards out was crucially blocked.

All the momentum was with Everton and moments later, they got on the scoresheet. Excellent play from Apter created the chance from a wide area, and Ebere was on hand from close-range to reduce the deficit.

In a quick start to the second half, Ebere almost had a double. He displayed electric pace to burst past Kamason, but Harrison came out and made a strong save.

Sherif then came agonisingly close, rattling the post following another quick attack, capping off what was a brilliant start to the half by Baines’ side.

The rhythm of the game was then stunted somewhat, and a stunning double save from Jensen kept Everton in the encounter. He first denied Wheatley, before a superb acrobatic save while on the floor to tip Jayce Fitzgerald’s effort onto the bar.

Just as it looked like the Blues would be left empty-handed, Ebere levelled the game deep into injury-time. He picked up the ball outside the area, drove into it and slammed past the helpless Harrison.

The draw was a deserved result for Everton, coming from behind to display their quality and end the season on a high.