Everton 2-0 Tranmere analysis: Baningime is a name worth rememberingBlues system works as Hornby displays swaggerAlways a good time to scoreIt had been a frustrating evening for Everton's youngsters as half-time approached.
The few chances they had managed to create against a committed Tranmere had only got as far as the visitors' excellent goalkeeper Paul Wharton who denied Fraser Hornby and Antony Evans with eye-catching saves.
But on the stroke of half-time, just as Kevin Sheedy will have been preparing a stern half-time team talk, the Blues managed to break the deadlock.
Beni Baningime's long ball over the top was latched onto by Hornby, he touched it past the on-rushing Wharton who brought him down and the Blues had a chance to ease their tension.
Hornby picked himself up and lashed home the spot-kick to make it 1-0.
Sheedy's team-talk took on a different complexion.
Who else?When you've struck 10 times in your 17 previous matches this season, confidence is never in short supply.
And the swagger with which Hornby dispatched the first-half penalty he won spoke volumes of that.
Having arrived at the club as an attacking midfielder, the 17-year-old – a handful in the air and a more than willing runner down the channels - is now being utilised as something of an old-fashioned targetman.
The numbers suggest that it more than suits him and so far this season it is suiting Everton as well.
The system worksIt was far from straightforward for Everton's u-18s at Goodison.
Tranmere defended well, tackled hard, refused to give in and hit the post twice in the second-half.
In many ways it was a classic, scrappy cup game that was nip and tuck for a long time.
But there can't have been two calmer lads on the field than Morgan Feeney and Callum Lees.
Everton's central defensive pairing have played at a higher level than this and their assured performance, individually and as a combination, told of that.
Feeney, from the “Dave Watson school of defending” according to David Unsworth, has been a regular fixture at under-23 level and for England's u-18s while Callum Lees has picked up invaluable experience playing against Football League clubs in the EFL Trophy.
It was pretty obvious that the 17-year-old duo have had that type of schooling already in their young careers as they defended with composure throughout.
One step closer
It was a Franny Jeffers goal that secured Everton's passage from the third round the last time they lifted the FA Youth Cup.
The Blues saw off Stoke City at Goodison in late January 1998 before going on to beat Watford, Ipswich, Leeds and Blackburn Rovers in the final.
Everton have only lifted the Youth Cup three times in their history – 1965, 1984 and 1998 – but after Sheedy's side negotiated a tricky tie with Tranmere, and extend their unbeaten run to 12 games, there will be a quite confidence that it can be this generation who emulates that success.
Remember the nameThere's plenty of positive talk in the corridors of Finch Farm about a young and dynamic midfielder in the Everton Academy ranks.
And 18-year-old Beni Baningime produced a performance to show why people are beginning to talk about him.
At times he looked a step ahead in this game and, like Lees and Feeney, has clearly benefited from being a regular in u-23s squads.
Full of energy and enthusiasm, he's the type of battling middle man that Evertonians would warm to.
It's early days in his young career but Baningime is a name worth remembering.
Liv Echo
