Everton Under-18s defeated Blackburn Rovers Under-18s 2-0 at the Lancashire outfit’s training ground in the Under-18 Premier League North.
Coby Ebere completed a quickfire brace to make it eight goals in seven and secure all three points on a warm Tuesday afternoon.
The forward got off the mark after a showing of sublime individual brilliance saw him beat four defenders before firing into the bottom-left corner in the 56th minute.
It was three minutes later when the number nine tapped in to double his side’s lead.
Head Coach Leighton Baines made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Wolves on Saturday. George Pickford started in goal, with Luca Davis, Joshua Van Schoor, and Joel Catesby coming into the starting XI.
Ebere fired just wide in the opening minute after nutmegging Matty Litherland. Catesby advanced down the left wing and played the ball to the feet of the forward, who span and skilfully evaded his marker. Faced one-on-one with Adam Khan, his low effort whistled wide of the target.
A well-worked set-piece routine saw Harvey Foster test the keeper with a low, curling effort inside eight minutes. The midfielder opted to take a free-kick short, finding Catesby on the left. The winger fed the ball back to Foster, who set his sights on goal but failed to beat Khan.
The hosts registered their first attack two minutes later, as Davis came to the rescue for the Toffees. Zack Stritch cut inside onto his favoured foot and released a curling effort that seemed destined for the top corner. The defender reacted fast to head the ball over the bar, relieving his side of any pressure.
Jacob Beaumont-Clark skewed an effort wide on 21 minutes after being found by the lively Catesby. The winger intercepted a pass in the middle of the park and drove forward before releasing Beaumont-Clark. The 18-year-old pulled the trigger with his first touch but squandered the opportunity.
Ebere came close once more on the half-hour mark after being played in by Callum Bates. With only Khan to beat, the number one did well to close down the angle and deny the in-form striker.
The Blues came firing out of the blocks after the break and threatened through Bates. Found by Beaumont-Clark, the midfielder shifted the ball onto his right and fired goalward. Khan made a fine save at the near-post to deny the visitors again.
Ebere broke the deadlock in style in the 56th minute after weaving between the challenges of four white and blue shirts. The 18-year-old received the ball in the area and made space for a shot after dazzling footwork left the Rovers backline in a trance. The goalscorer wrong-footed the keeper, who could only spectate as the ball rolled in to open the scoring.
He doubled his tally three minutes later to conclude a brilliant Blues break. Odin Samuels-Smith was played in down the right on the counter. Upon reaching the by-line, he squared the ball to Ebere who tapped in to extend his scintillating goalscoring streak.
Stritch rattled the crossbar for Blackburn in the 73rd minute as the home side searched for an equaliser.
Attention now turns to Saturday as the young Blues travel to Yorkshire to face Leeds United (12pm GMT).
By Ross Hughes
