Everton Under-18s extend unbeaten run with thrilling comeback win

03/19/2025 06:00 AM

Six games unbeaten for the U18s, but the Under-21s slip up

The last 3 weeks for Everton's Under 18s has seen a "back-to-back" games schedule. The youngsters have been in action twice a week since mid-February and they have responded magnificently with 4 wins, 2 draws and a very healthy 17 goals scored!

A less attractive statistic is that, during that run alone, the team received a total of 3 red cards making a total of 5 for the season at this level. The latest, last weekend, was Justin Clarke, his second of the season. It could just be youthful exuberance of course but I am sure that manager Keith Southern will be having a quiet word with him. Ill-discipline at this level is not unheard of but 3 dismissals (for the team) in 6 recent games is unusually high and not acceptable. Other managers within the club, such as Paul Tait, will be wary if it turns out to be a behavioural or attitude issue with Clarke. The skilful youngster, who plays as a pacy winger, has put in some exciting strong-running displays for the Under 18s but he will have to be careful that he does not get tarnished as a liability for his team.

The last game itself, against Leeds United U18s, saw the Blues overcome a 2 goal deficit. Promising Toffees midfielder, 16 year old Demi Akarakiri, notched a goal on the half-hour to bring the score at the interval to 1-2 and set the team up for a big second half. A new name to the team, right sided midfielder, 15 year-old Jonathan Nsangou, was the scorer of a brace in the 58th and 75th minutes.

Meanwhile, the previous evening had seen the Under 21s lose at home to their Arsenal counterparts. This was how they lined up (below) with, unusually for the team, a back 5 and 22 year old Zan-Luk Leban getting just his 4th run-out of the season in goal. It was quite an eventful night for him too!

A little like the U18s, Paul Tait's side fell behind by 2 goals in the opening 45 minutes and the U21s manager was not happy with the state of the defending.

Obviously with a bit of "encouragement" at the interval, and a change of formation to a more typical back 4, the Blues got back into the game early in the second half. Jack Patterson's well-taken corner was met firstly by the head of Aled Thomas then, as the ball was blocked, his unfavoured right foot did the damage high into the net, 1-2.

That's the 5th goal (3 for the U21s) this season for the left-sided centre back who has begun to catch the eye both as a defender and a goalscoring threat.

Things could have got worse soon afterwards but they had Leban (see below) to thank for making a clever save from a Gunners penalty-kick. It was one of many fine saves on the night for the Toffees' Slovenian goalkeeper.

Away from the action, there was some very good news for the strong Welsh contingent in the Blues' youth ranks as 4 players were called up at the different age groups as follows:

Omari Benjamin (Wales U21)

Aled Thomas and George Morgan (Wales U19)

Luis Gardner (Wales U18)

Llongyfarchiadau (and in English, "Congratulations") to them all!

It's nearly two weeks (March 29th) until the Blues U18s visit Newcastle for their next game and even longer (April 7th) until the U21s host Norwich City.