David Unsworth declared his pride after an inexperienced Everton Under-23 side battled out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in their Premier League International Cup opener.
Unsworth promoted several Under-18 players to his squad for the clash and they stood toe-to-toe with a Seagulls side flying high in second position in Premier League 2.
Bassala Sambou’s penalty gave the young Blues a first-half lead at Brighton’s American Express Elite Performance Centre, before quickfire goals from Seagulls duo Ben Barclay and James Tilley after the break turned the game on its head.
But the Toffees showed impressive resilience and substitute Ellis Simms – promoted to Unsworth’s side after hitting eight goals in five games for Everton Under-18s – lashed home an equaliser with a quarter of an hour to go to secure a point in the Group D opener.
Unsworth was delighted with how his young players stepped up to the mark.
“I’m really proud of the players, although when you get in that position, you want to win the game,” he said.
“Brighton played their strongest team tonight, while we gave a chance to some of the players that haven’t been playing.
“We also gave some of the Under-18s who have been playing well the opportunity to step up and produce a performance and they certainly did that.
“I’m delighted for Ellis Simms. He’s a great lad and he’s done a great job tonight. We wanted to give him an opportunity, he has been scoring a lot of goals last season and certainly this season.
“He does the hardest thing in the game, which is putting the ball in the back of the net. Kyle John had half a game and was very good - unfortunately he got a little injury - and Ryan Astley was absolutely magnificent at centre-back. Anthony Gordon did well, too.
“There were so many positives to take.”
The young Blues had chances before Sambou’s spot-kick broke the deadlock on 26 minutes.
Matty Foulds’ swerving free-kick forced Brighton stopper Hugo Keto into a fine fingertip stop, before Sambou himself went close with a stinging shot that was superbly blocked by Seagulls defender Ben White.
The home side had chances of their own, Viktor Gyokores' dipping effort forced an excellent, sprawling save from Joe Hilton before James Tilley shot straight at the Everton stopper when clean through on goal.
Predictably, though, it was Josh Bowler – who had looked to most dangerous player on the pitch – who was to make the first game-changing contribution of the match.
After a blistering run at the heart of the Brighton defence, he was upended by Seagulls skipper Ben Barclay and referee Carl Brook had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Sambou stepped up and was coolness personified as he sent Keto the wrong way to put the Toffees in front.
Brighton, however, hit back after the break and on 58 minutes Barclay headed home Markus Suttner's corner delivery to make it 1-1.
Eight minutes later and the home side were ahead – Tilley bundling home from Suttner’s free-kick.
The Toffees refused to let their heads go down and on 74 minutes Simms, who had come on as a substitute just 10 minutes previously, lashed home the equaliser from close range.
Next up for Unsworth’s side is a Premier League 2 clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday at Goodison Park.
The Under-23s boss says his side will head into the game buoyed by their display on the south coast. He was also eager to praise the performance of dynamic midfielder Bowler, who was a constant menace for Everton in his 65 minutes against the Seagulls.
“That’s the best performance he’s produced in an Everton shirt,” he said.
“He had a little injury pre-season and he’s been disappointed and frustrated not to be in the team, to the point that he was champing at the bit.
“Before tonight’s game I mentioned there are positions up for grabs in Sunday’s game and he might just have grabbed a shirt.
“I’m very proud of the attitude and performance we showed as a whole tonight and, on another day, we might have nicked it.”
Everton team: Hilton, John (Gordon 45'), Astley, Feeney, Ouzounidis, Foulds, Bowler (Mampala 65'), Adeniran, Markelo, Sambou, Lavery (Simms 65')
