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Post by Everton News. on Nov 3, 2021 1:09:01 GMT
Hartlepool United advanced to the knockout stages of the Papa John’s Trophy at the expense of Everton after substitute Matty Daly scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute at Victoria Park.
The sides entered their final group game level on points and with all to play for. Antony Sweeney was taking charge of League Two Hartlepool for the first time after previous manager Dave Challinor resigned following a 5-0 defeat to Leyton Orient on Saturday.
There was an electric start with the young Toffees looking to capitalise on any uncertainty in the home side's backline and inside the first minute Lewis Dobbin threaded a nicely-weighted ball to Tom Cannon, whose shot from the right side of the box went just over the bar.
Hartlepool had a good chance on four minutes when Mark Shelton's corner was headed over by Reagan Ogle. After a fast beginning from both sets of players the tempo of the game progressively eased, with Hartlepool looking to hurt David Unsworth’s team from set-pieces.
Everton were playing the neater football, looking to build up their play from the back and work openings to punch the ball into Dobbin, the visitors' most dangerous player in the opening half.
Both teams failed to create any real clear-cut chances prior to the interval and the game steadily growing cagier raised the prospect of Hartlepool contesting a third straight penalty shootout in the competition.
Everton had the first clear opening of the game on 57 minutes after half-time substitute Stanley Mills found himself one-on-one with keeper Jonathan Mitchell following a brilliant through ball from Rhys Hughes (pictured). Mills tried to lift the ball over Mitchell using the bounce from the pass but the effort went just wide.
Hartlepool reacted straight away, striker Joe Grey shooting through the legs of Harry Tyrer in Everton's goal only for captain Ryan Astley to bail out his side with a clearance off the line.
The home side eventually broke the deadlock on 71 minutes, with substitute Daly making an instant impact. Midfielder Tom Crawford played in Will Goodwin, whose shot was saved impressively by Tyrer. Daly was first to the rebound, however, and used his right foot to slot the ball into the net.
Everton midfielder Hughes nearly took the game to penalties in the 90th minute but his strike from 25 yards was smartly saved by Mitchell, with the ball heading for the keeper's bottom left corner.
Daly's goal, then, proved decisive, eliminating Everton from the tournament and securing progress for the Football League club.
Everton FC
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