Everton Under-23s 3 Sheffield United 1

Stanley Mills hit a brace as Everton Under-23s came from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-1 in the Premier League Cup on Thursday.

Katia Kouyate was also on target for Everton at Chesterfield FC's Technique Stadium, with the victory elevating the Blues to the summit of Group D.

The Blades took the lead as early as the third minute. Zan-Luk Leban in the Everton goal stopped a shot from Angelo Cappello but Will Osula picked up the loose ball and tapped in from close range.

David Unsworth’s frustration at conceding a lax goal early on was compounded by the fact that Charlie Whitaker appeared to be impeded during the build-up. Whitaker needed treatment and a couple of minutes later he limped off.

Everton levelled on 26 minutes and it was a fine goal.

Mills fed the ball to Mackenzie Hunt on the left and the full-back’s perfect cross was met with a peach of a header from substitute Katia Kouyate.

Hunt had earlier come close himself when he intercepted a forward pass before drilling a low shot wide.

In difficult playing conditions both sides continued to play good football and, on more than one occasion, Everton were indebted to some timely defending by Eli Campbell.

The Blues took the lead a minute before the break. Lewis Warrington swung a deep corner into the box and Mills stole in at the back post to turn the ball past the keeper for his fifth goal of the season.

His sixth wasn’t long in coming.

Four minutes into the second period, Mills carried the ball forward and let fly from 20 yards, giving Jordan Amissah in the Blades goal absolutely no chance.

Two minutes later, Hassan Ayari curled a free-kick from the edge of the Everton box over the bar before the hosts were thankful for some terrific goalkeeping by Jordan Assimah.

First, he was alert to keep out a fierce angled drive from Hunt and then from the subsequent corner he did superbly well to acrobatically turn away a superb effort from Warrington.

Late in the piece, Everton keeper Leban then did really well to thwart Femi Seriki who was clean through on goal.

This was a fine win for a young Blues team and perfect revenge for the 3-1 defeat inflicted on them at Southport by Sheffield United earlier in the competition.