Salford City 2-1 EvertonJames Garner struck a second-half free-kick as a much-changed Everton side upped their fitness levels with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday.
In the Blues’ second friendly of the summer, Garner hit home five minutes after the break with a low 20-yard effort to give Sean Dyche’s side reward for creating plenty of chances.
A string of changes followed for the visitors, allowing Salford to respond from an unlucky Eli Campbell own goal and Dan Chesters winner three minutes from time.
But it is all about match sharpness at this stage of pre-season and, against a Salford team playing their sixth contest of the summer, Everton looked an attacking threat throughout.
Sean Dyche opted to start Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a two-man attack for the Blues’ second clash of the summer. And the duo combined for the game’s first chance on seven minutes, Jack Harrison doing well to win the ball from a central area 25 yards out, playing in Calvert-Lewin whose chipped cross from the right was headed over by Beto.
Everton’s bright opening continued when Harrison fed Beto just inside Salford’s half, the striker’s neat turn freeing Doucoure down the left channel, only for the midfielder to cut inside and place his finish from the edge of the box over the bar.
Moments later, a quick counter down the middle from Dwight McNeil sent Calvert-Lewin into the area. The Toffees’ No.9 turned and went down under a challenge, only for referee Simon Mather to wave play on.
And Calvert-Lewin was back in the thick of the action again on 16 minutes, the lively Harrison – who earned praise from Dyche for looking sharp against Sligo Rovers – threading a through ball for the striker to collect, only to put his finish the wrong side of the right-hand post.
After a dominant opening from the visitors, the contest went into a lull in terms of openings, although Everton stayed in control despite their League Two opponents coming into the game with five pre-season matches already under their belts.
Unlike the 3-3 draw in Sligo eight days earlier – when Dyche changed his whole XI for the start of the second half – it was just three changes after the break this time around, Youssef Chermiti, Roman Dixon and Eli Campbell replacing Beto, captain Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young.
Chermiti – whose two late goals saw the Blues earn a share of the spoils in Ireland – took little time to make an impression, his quick feet seeing him wriggle clear on the edge of the area before being tripped over.
Garner and McNeil stood over the resulting free-kick and it was Garner who put Everton into a 50th-minute lead when he found the bottom right-hand corner direct from the set piece.
It was nearly 2-0 moments later as Campbell zoomed down the left touchline and whipped in a cross for Harrison to connect with a first-time finish that was saved by substitute keeper Matty Young.
More changes arrived as the hour mark approached: Neal Maupay, Reece Welch, Francis Okoronkwo, Tim Iroegbunam, Tyler Onyango, Harrison Armstrong and Harry Tyrer coming on for Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane, McNeil, Doucoure, Mason Holgate, Harrison and Joao Virigina.
Seventeen-year-old midfielder Armstrong – who signed his first professional contract at the start of this month – could have got his maiden senior goal just minutes after coming on as he was played clean through but, on two occasions, unselfishly tried to square to Okoronkwo rather than pull the trigger himself.
Salford found a leveller on 69 minutes in bizarre fashion when Ben Woodburn’s flicked header hit the right-hand post, rolled across goal and, as Campbell tried to clear, the defender could only turn the ball onto the other post and over the line.##
The Blues continued to look a threat going forward, though, Chermiti showing some lovely touches, before Maupay played in Okoronkwo whose low, powerful drive was turned behind by the outstretched leg of Young.
Dixon showed his rapid pace with 15 minutes to go as he broke down the right and played in Maupay and Chermiti. The forwards left the ball for one another, though, and the chance of finishing off a quick counter was gone.
It was Salford who had the final say three minutes from time, Chester collecting a low through ball and placing an accurate finish beyond Tyrer.
It handed the win to the hosts but, in truth, this was another workout for Everton ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Championship side Coventry City.
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