Everton U18s fight back to earn a point against West BromJack Bainbridge late strike rescues a point for the young Toffees 
Jack Bainbridge of Everton u-18s in action
A late strike from Jack Bainbridge meant that Everton Under-18s earned themselves a deserved point at home to West Bromwich Albion Under-18s with a 1-1 draw at Finch Farm.
In a match of few clear cut chances, Marcus Forss gave the visitors the lead just after the hour mark, before the Blues' centre back levelled the scores with just minutes left on the clock.
Everton went in to the game in third place in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League, two points behind Liverpool and six behind Manchester City, but with two games in hand on both of their rivals.
The Blues were also entering the fixture in the back of their first victory in five games, a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough at Finch Farm two weeks ago.
West Bromwich Albion, on the other hand, found themselves in eighth place in the league table and having won only six of their last 17 matches.
Despite dominating the possession side of the game in the first half, Everton were made to work hard to create any chances by a robust West Brom.
The visitors kept a solid shape and we're dealing with any crosses that were coming in from the flanks that weren't already being dealt with by the strong wind around Finch Farm.
When the Blues were having chances to shoot, they weren't able to direct their efforts away from Matthew Hall in the West Brom goal.
Everton's first half-chance of the match came after good work from Donohue down the right; he pulled the ball back to Beni Baningime just inside the box but his effort was rather tame and was an easy save for the keeper.
Everton's next real effort on goal came much later in the half in the 32nd minute, but Bramall couldn't work Hall with his shot from the left side of the box.
The second half was initally threatening to pan out in the same way as the first, with the visitors effectively smothering the Everton front line whenever they went forward.
However, just after the hour mark, and against the run of play, it was West Brom who were able to take the lead.
Forss was played in through the centre, was kept onside by Spencer Myers, and was able to coolly slot the ball passed Ciaran O'Loughlin to put the visitors 1-0.
That seemed to spur Everton in to action and Josef Yarney almost had an immediate chance to equalise but Antony Evans' cross just evaded him at the back post.
A minute later, the centre back had an even better chance to draw the scores level, but after Myers' corner found him in acres of space Yarney could only head wide.
However, a big turning point of the match came when Dara O'Shea kicked the ball away after not agreeing with a refereeing decision, earning him a red card.
Bainbridge and Evans both went close to finding the equaliser as Everton piled the pressure on the ten-man West Brom team, before the former finally put the ball in the net.
A good corner in to the box wasn't dealt with properly by the West Brom defence and Jack Bainbridge was able to scramble the ball home when it fell to him.
The hosts even had time to push for a winner which would have seen them leapfrog Liverpool in the league table, but Nathan Holland's effort from the edge of the box cannoned off the crossbar.
Everton have now taken four points from their last two games to help their title challenge, going in to their next fixture away to Newcastle United in a week's time.
LivEcho
