Everton Under-21s returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory against Norwich City on Tuesday evening.
The young Blues had already defeated sides in two cup competitions this season, but, after four draws and one loss, were still looking for their first three-point haul in the league.
And, just like the first team 24 hours earlier, David Unsworth’s side had to come from behind to get their reward. Jonjoe Kenny’s penalty on the brink of half time canceled out Jamar Loza’s spot-kick, before Mason Holgate and Callum Connolly completed the fight-back midway through the second period.
Everton began the brighter of the two sides, with Sam Byrne, Calum Dyson and Gethin Jones going close before the Canaries worked their way into the game midway through the half.
The Under-21s used the rule which permits a quota of overage players to hand valuable minutes to Bryan Oviedo, as well as Brazilian right-back Felipe Mattioni Rohde, who is currently working with the team.
And it was the latter who had an impact in both penalty areas in the first half; first conceding the foul which allowed Loza to open the scoring on 32 minutes, before a marauding run drew the tackle that gave Kenny the chance to level from 12 yards.
With Loza striking the foot of the post just moments before and Conor McGrandles forcing a superb reflex save from Mateusz Hewelt, the Blues will have been relieved for it to have been all square at the interval.
Yet in the second period it was all Everton.
Joe Williams, Oviedo and Mattioni all had chances in the early stages, while Hewelt was needed again to deny Benny Ashley-Seal.
Then, on 64 minutes, Byrne’s drive forced a corner which was knocked down into the path of Holgate and the former Barnsley teenager was in the right place to convert from close range to grab his first goal in royal blue.
The newfound lead would be extended just 120 seconds later when defensive midfielder Connolly drove through the centre of the park and unleashed a low effort into the bottom corner.
Dyson hit the post late on, but the damage was done and the Blues had their first league win of the campaign, lifting them up to fifth in the table.
Everton Under-21s now face a break from competitive action, with their next outing set for Friday 16 October at Middlesbrough.
Everton U21s: Hewelt, Mattioni, Kenny, Holgate, Oviedo, Connolly, Grant, Williams (c), Dyson, Jones, Byrne. Subs: Gray, Henen (Jones 59), Charsley (Byrne 77), Ledson (Mattioni 85), Yates.
