Martin Sherif struck in second-half stoppage time to earn Everton a 2-2 draw in Saturday morning’s mini-Merseyside derby.   

In what was a fiercely-contested contest at Kirkby, it was the hosts who started the brightest and managed to take the lead inside the opening five minutes through Karim Ahmed.   

The young Blues fought back, though, and eventually drew level five minutes before the break when Sherif, who netted against Liverpool in November’s 2-1 win, latched onto a ball from Owen Barker to slot past Fabian Mrozek.   

The home side restored their lead just before the hour mark through Elijah Izobodo John and looked on course to seal the bragging rights. However, Sherif popped up again in the dying moments of the game to rescue a point for Leighton Baines’ side.   

Saturday’s draw means the young Blues are now unbeaten in four league games and currently sit eighth in the Premier League U18 division.

Post-match, assistant manager Kieran Driscoll said: “I thought it was a pretty even game. We started okay, our build-up play and play through midfield was good. We just lacked quality in the final third.  

"Their first goal came from our mistake, but it was a good performance on the whole, especially in the first half. There were good patterns in our play and we had decent chances."

Driscoll was also keen to give praise to goalscorer Sherif. “He’s growing into games, when there’s supply and he has composure he always looks like a goal threat," said the assistant coach.

"We have been working on his overall play, playing back to goal and so on. He had a chance to win it at the death, with he’ll be disappointed about, but on the whole, he’s doing well.”   

Everton Under-18s return to action on Saturday 21 January (11.30am GMT) when they welcome Wolves to Finch Farm.