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Post by Everton News. on Nov 30, 2022 22:57:43 GMT
Everton Under-21s completed a dramatic turnaround in stoppage-time to beat Mansfield Town 2-1 and secure their place in the last 16 of the Papa John's Trophy.
The Blues were one of just five youth teams to reach the last 32 of the competition, securing qualification and top spot in Group A with a resounding 6-0 win over Hartlepool back in October.
But Paul Tait’s side looked set to be exiting the tournament as they struggled to find a response to Rhys Oats' early opener for the visitors.
Everton rallied late in stoppage-time, though, to complete a dramatic turnaround with goals from Liam Higgins and Tom Cannon.
Both players were one of seven players returning to Tait’s starting XI after impressing in Frank Lampard’s squad that took part in the Sydney Super Cup in Australia last week. Ben Godfrey also secured more valuable minutes as he completed the full game for the young Blues following a fractured fibula on the opening day of the season.
It didn’t take long for Everton to fashion their first opportunity of the game under the lights of the Old Lady when just two minutes in, a well-worked Isaac Price free-kick was sent towards the back post where Joe Anderson had broken free. The defender headed the ball back across goal in the direction of Stanley Mills who met the pass on the edge of the six-yard box but he could only send his effort sailing over the bar.
The visitors had a set piece of their own just three minutes later but made theirs count. A mix-up in the Everton defence allowed attacker Oats to rise unchallenged and fire his header into the top corner of Zan-Luk Leban’s net.
Tait’s side tried to find an immediate response with Cannon looking lively in attack, he unleashed a couple of shots in the space of a few minutes but neither posed enough danger to trouble Mansfield’s Scott Flinders.
Buoyed by their early goal though, it was Nigel Clough’s side who looked sharper and slicker in possession while the young Blues struggled to impose themselves in the opening half-hour. Mansfield continued to turn the screw as the half progressed, but Everton did a good job of limiting them to very few chances of note.
Heading towards the break, the Blues started to grow in confidence and finished the half strongly, with Price going closest with a curling effort from outside the box that he flew over the bar.
At half-time, Liam Higgins replaced Roman Dixon and the second period started similarly to how the first ended, with Everton on top and pushing for an equaliser.
That initial momentum soon tailed off though and Everton found it tough to get the dangerous duo of Cannon and Francis Okoronkwo into the game.
With a little over 20 minutes remaining, Everton forged their first shot on target in the half as Price, again from distance, drilled a vicious effort low and hard but Flinders got down to claim it well.
In search of the elusive equaliser, Tait made a host of changes, first Mackenzie Hunt made way for Ishe Samuels-Smith before Owen Barker and Katia Kouyate replaced Mills and Okoronkwo with a little over ten minutes remaining.
It was half-time substitute Higgins that finally forced Everton’s breakthrough though. As the game entered the allotted four minutes of stoppage time, Higgins made a busting run from deep to meet a clever flick from Cannon on the edge of the box. The 19-year-old took one touch out of his feet before rifling his shot into the top corner.
Creator Cannon then turned scorer just two minutes later, latching onto a great through ball from Quirk before slotting superbly past Flinders to book the Blues’ place in the last 16.
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