Everton Under-23s rounded off their pre-season training camp in Spain with a 4-2 win over Hull City on Saturday morning.
The Young Blues had been in the La Manga region since Sunday evening as they looked to reach peak fitness after early summer games against Flint and Accrington Stanley.
And courtesy of goals from Nathan Broadhead, Conor Grant, David Henen and Anton Donkor, a deserved victory showcased they were looking in great shape ahead of their Premier League 2 title defence.
In sweltering conditions that offered no clouds or breeze for shelter from the glaring sun, David Unsworth’s side sustained an electric tempo from the first whistle to the last.
The opening chance came as early as the second minute as Calum Dyson played a precise reverse pass to put Antony Evans through on goal, but the keeper was out fast and able to block his shot.
Evans, impressive throughout his 50-minute outing, then turned architect as the Blues went 1-0 up. Receiving the ball on halfway, his cutting pass brought Broadhead in off the right and the Wales youth international slotted low into the far corner.
A deserved lead after a fast start of intent pressing and intricate play. Midfielder Grant then saw a shot saved before another deflected wide, but he would have the ball in the net on 13 minutes.
A short corner was eventually floated in and after Hull were unable to clear it out of the box, the ball dropped to Grant to drill home.
Dyson and Broadhead were then involved once more to help tee up Evans but again the goalkeeper was alert. A further save denied Harry Charsley, while Dyson headed narrowly over from an Evans cross.
Shortly before the interval, Evans was brought down inside the box but the referee waved play on. In truth, the Blues could have been ahead by far more than just the two goals after 45 minutes.
The second half started with the same veracity and Evans spurned a chance from close range, before he expertly found Gethin Jones surging forward on the right. The full-back’s cross was an inch too high for Dyson.
Charsley then found the net with a calm finish but was adjudged to have been offside, but it wouldn’t be long before a third goal was given. Donkor passed to Henen outside of the box and the Belgian’s low drive had too much pace on it for the Tigers’ stopper to keep out.
Bassala Sambou then headed against the post from a Luke Garbutt cross, before Grant seized possession and played a neat through pass to the Germany-born striker but his shot found the wrong side of the net.
Hull, who did not give Mateusz Hewelt a single save to make, were gifted a goal with 23 minutes left to play after a mix-up at the back.
Josh Bowler showed his threat by winning a free-kick. Grant’s delivery went towards Sambou and Morgan Feeney at that back post but neither could convert.
The Tigers then saw a long-range drive hit the angle of crossbar and post before Hewelt was unable to hold on to a low cross and the loose ball was struck into the back of the net.
Moments before the end, the on-loan Donkor intercepted a pass, charged forward with the ball at speed and scored with a powerful drive.
A well-earned victory in tough conditions. The Young Blues will head home in 24 hours before looking to continue their unbeaten summer run with upcoming friendlies against Bangor City and Brentford.
Everton Under-23s: Hewelt, Jones (Bramall 64), Denny, Foulds (Feeney 64), Garbutt (Robinson 64), Baningime (Markelo 61), Grant (Byrne 76), Broadhead (Bowler 55), Evans (Henen 50), Charsley (Donkor 55), Dyson (Sambou 50).
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