Everton Under-21s came from behind to record a 2-1 victory over Bohemians in a pre-season friendly in Dublin on Wednesday evening.
David Unsworth’s side dominated proceedings in the first half but, despite the pressure, found themselves behind at the interval following Kealon Dillon’s 25-yard strike.
Antony Evans earned the young Blues a richly-deserved equaliser shortly after the break, converting off the underside of the crossbar after a neat exchange with Tom Davies.
And the Toffees went on to notch a late winner as Michael Donohue crossed excellently for fellow substitute Calum Dyson, who emphatically headed home to maintain the Under-21s’ 100% record in pre-season.
The young Blues came racing out of the traps and created the first opening of the game came with barely two minutes on the clock as Dublin-born Sam Byrne seized on a lofted pass, before beating his man and stinging the hands of Lee Steacy in the hosts’ goal.
After surviving several scares in the early exchanges, Bohs went on to open the scoring inside 10 minutes when Dillon, who saw his initial shot blocked, found the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Everton responded well to the setback and attacking midfield trio - Evans, David Henen and Kieran Dowell - continued to cause the home side’s defence problems throughout the opening period.
Dowell’s in-swinging corner found Callum Connolly at the far post, but the header back across goal looped narrowly over the crossbar.
The duo were in the thick of the action again minutes later as Connolly saw two shots well blocked, before Dowell forced Steacy into making a fine save at full stretch.
Right-back Jones created the Toffees’ best chance of the half with an inch-perfect cross for Byrne, who was unmarked six-yards out. The striker, however, could only divert his header straight at Steacy, who parried the ball behind for a corner.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first with Everton on the front foot and, this time, they made it count.
Evans played a neat one-two with Tom Davies inside the penalty area, before stabbing home off the underside off the crossbar for a richly-deserved equaliser.
The second half continued with Unsworth’s troops enjoying the lion’s share of possession and the hosts looking to hit on the counter-attack.
Bohs went close to regaining their lead shortly after they surrendered it, but Mateusz Hewelt reacted excellently to keep out Craig Hayes’ miscued cross.
Everton went on to grab the winner with eight minutes remaining as Donohue’s centre was met by Dyson’s thumping header.
Next up for the young Blues is a trip north for a clash with Glenavon on Saturday.
