EDS go five points clear with five-star Everton win

Dire Mebude put City ahead just before the half-time break following a frustrating first 45 minutes for Brian Barry-Murphy‘s side. 

But an own-goal from Elijah Campbell before some stylish finishes from Carlos Borges and Will Dickson put the result beyond all doubt.

Josh Adam rounded off the scoring in added time, sealing us a deserved win over the Toffees and strengthening our lead at the top of the table. 

WHAT HAPPENED 

The first half started slowly as City struggled to get our passing game going on a chilly Manchester afternoon. 

We managed to deal with the long-ball game the visitors imposed well, keeping the threat well away from our goal, but similarly struggled to impose ourselves on the Everton defenders in the first 20 minutes.

However, the chances started to come for City, with Borges unlucky not to open the scoring when a dinked finish past the Everton keeper drifted just wide of the far post. 

Adam fired over minutes later before a big chance fell to Oscar Bobb, who headed goalwards after his initial shot was saved, only for an Everton player to get back and clear the ball away via the crossbar. 

It was clear that if there was to be a goal in the first half, it would come from City, with Mebude showing the danger he has displayed all season, firing two inviting balls across the face of goal that weren’t converted. 

But, City’s patience eventually paid off when, after having seemingly an obvious penalty waved away for a push on Mebude, the ball was fired back towards the winger across the box, allowing him to side-foot the ball home, putting us ahead on the stroke of half-time. 

Into the second-half, the game became quite physical as Everton looked to disrupt our play, with challenges flying in, resulting in bookings for Stan Mills, Jenson Metcalfe and City’s Shea Charles. 

But despite this, we managed to increase our lead just before the hour-mark, as a great piece of skill from Bobb gave him space inside the area, before his cross was inadvertently turned home by Everton’s Campbell.

And two soon became three on 62 minutes, with Bobb at the centre of it again, bursting through the middle of the Everton midfield before scooping the ball towards Borges, who finished with a sweetly-taken left-footed volley. 

With the result now beyond doubt, the fans in attendance at the Academy Stadium were treated with the pick of the goals, as Dickson chipped the ball from a stand-still over the Everton keeper and three of their defenders into the back of the net as we put ourselves well and truly out of sight.

Adam got a deserved goal for himself in added time, with Hamilton cutting back to the midfielder inside the box before unleashing a left-footed strike into the back of the net, rounding off the scoring on a successful afternoon for the EDS.  

HOW WE LINED UP 

Cieran Slicker was brought in between the sticks, whilst Jadel Katongo came into the defence to partner Finley Burns at centre-back, Terrell Agyemang and Kane Taylor continued in the full-back positions.

With Shea Charles captaining the side from defensive midfield, Josh Adam was given a start in a more advanced role with Oscar Bobb chosen in the number 10 role. 

Will Dickson led City’s attack against the Toffees, with Adedire Mebude on the right and Carlos Borges coming in from the left. 

Manchester City EDS 

Starting XI: Slicker, Agyemang, Burns, Katongo (McDonald 63’), Taylor (Robertson 66’), Charles, Mebude, Adam, Dickson (Breckin 70’), Bobb, Borges (Hamilton 70’). 

Substitutes: McNamara.

Everton Under-21s

Starting XI: Leban, John, Samuels-Smith, Welch, Campbell, Metcalfe (Higgins 65’), Mills, Price, Okoronkwo, McAllister (Kouyate 46’), Hunt (Heath 22’). 

Substitutes: Barrett, Mallon.

WHAT IT MEANS 

The victory sees us extend our advantage at the top of Premier League 2 to five points over our nearest challengers Chelsea. 

It also extends the EDS’ unbeaten run to eight games stretching back to October.  

UP NEXT 

The EDS will get back on the continental road, as we travel to Croatia to face Hajduk Split in the UEFA Youth League Round-of-16. 

Kick-off at Stadion Poljud will be at 13:00 GMT on Tuesday 28 February.