Report: Everton U21s 3-3 Fulham U21s
Everton Under-21s twice came from behind to draw 3-3 with Fulham on a thrilling Monday evening at Southport.
The young Blues found themselves two goals down inside 20 minutes as Adam Taggart and Freddy Plumain both converted Cottagers' counters.
But strikes from David Henen and Joe Williams made it all square before Jonjoe Kenny cancelled out Buomesca Tue Na Bangna's effort and ensured Everton remain firmly in the mix for the league title.
Despite enjoying much of the ball and persistently asking questions of the visiting backline, the Toffees succombed to a cross-field three-on-two counter on five minutes.
Plumain allowed a cross from the right to pass through his legs for Taggart to finish neatly beyond Mateusz Hewelt.
And that lead would be doubled 15 minutes later when Tom Richards seized on a loose ball, found Plumain in the box and the forward shifted onto his right foot before firing low and into the back of the net.
Such was the Blues' performance, goals aside, their heads did not drop and Callum Connolly forced a smart save from Magnus Norman within a minute of the restart.
Norman was beaten on 31 minutes, however, thanks to a bit of Belgian magic. Winger David Henen had drifted inside to receive the ball in space outside the box, from where he fired a thunderous shot into the top corner.
Courtney Duffus saw an effort smartly saved before Matthew Kennedy volleyed agonisingly wide, but it would still be all square at the break - a scoreline no less than the Blues deserved.
Gethin Jones and Kennedy threatened down the right all evening and their work in tandem paid off as they exchanged passes before the former's cross found the head of Williams.
The midfielder did not have to move - only steer the ball goalward and it nestled sweetly beyond a diving Norman in the final minute of the half.
Norman denied Duffus again after the break before Brendan Galloway, back in the squad after illness, was unfortunate not to convert amid a scramble in the box.
With Hewelt relatively untroubled, it was somewhat against the run of play that Fulham took the lead again; this time Bangna finishing well from the edge of the box on 77 minutes.
But the Blues came back once more and skipper Kenny was well placed to slot home from close range at the end of a swinging free-kick with just nine minutes remaining.
There was to be no seventh goal, but the point keeps the Toffees among the teams at the top of the division.
Attention now turns to the Under-21 Premier League International Cup clash with Sunderland at Southport on Monday 2 February.
