Heskey scored the first goal of 2025 for our Under-18s, giving us the lead inside the opening 10 minutes with a deflected effort.
Full-back Dante Headley doubled our advantage just shy of the 20-minute mark with a neat and composed finish from close range before the younger of our Heskey brothers bagged his second in what was an impressive first half of football from Oliver Reiss‘ side.
Matty Warhurst added a fourth with a low, clinical strike that City fans are all too familiar with seeing from the striker.
George Morgan’s late penalty proved to be just a consolation for the visitors as our triumph over the Toffees extended our winning streak to 10 in the Under-18 Premier League North.
WHAT HAPPENED
A crisp and chilly City Football Academy welcomed the two teams for our first fixture of 2025.
And it didn’t take Reiss’ side long to show real passion and purpose. Dancing feet from Ryan McAidoo saw him escape a two-man press and burst towards the Toffees’ goal, clearly unfazed by the sub-zero temperature.
As he cut in and onto his favoured left, driving into the Everton box, McAidoo’s shot flew, unfortunately, straight into the palms of Doug Lukjanciks in the opening minute.
Everton recorded the first corner of the game in their first attack seconds later. But the Toffees failed to test Max Hudson as City saw out the brief Everton spell.
City’s intensity was a benefit of going a month without fixtures and that overpowering play saw us carve out the opening goal on seven minutes.
Heskey received the ball on the left and, to Everton’s mistake, he was given plenty of space to roam. The winger, in similar fashion to McAidoo, cut inside to his favoured right foot.
And Heskey will claim the goal, his strike goal-bound but deflected off of Ademide Akarakiri and looped high, over ‘keeper Lukjanciks and into the back of the Everton net.
After the restart, the guests threw bodies forward and their high press caused issues.
A through ball by Justin Clarke to Braiden Graham saw him one-on-one with Hudson on the edge of the six-yard box.
But the City ‘keeper came out on top, blocking the shot. The ball did slip from Hudson’s grasp and as the ball rolled towards the City goal, captain Kaden Braithwaite put the ball out of harm’s way.
Reiss’ squad then took control of the game dominating possession as we bagged our second.
Headley’s under-lap left Everton chasing the play. The right-back snuck his effort under the keeper from a near-impossible angle on the byline on 19 minutes.
He was teed up beautifully by Divine Mukasa, his 11th assist in the league in what has been an impressive campaign so far for the midfielder.
City continued to be unforgiving, piling the pressure on an Everton side who struggled to deal with how quick Reiss’s side were playing football.
A fantastic over-the-top ball by Kian Noble saw Heskey burst through on goal. A low, clinical shot from the forward made it three on 26 minutes.
Everton’s best chance of the game, so far, came 10 minutes before the break. Harvey Foster carved out space in the middle before Joel Catesby was played through on the left.
The latter strode towards goal but pressure from Hudson, who burst off his line, forced Catesby to shoot earlier than he would have liked. Hudson’s vital touch from his outstretched left foot denied Everton from pulling one back.
Chances for Femi Fapetu, Finlay Gorman and a potential third for Heskey were all blocked in the final minutes of what was a fantastic first 45 minutes.
The start of the second half was slower with City looking to try and frustrate Everton by holding the ball, passing amongst the defence.
Whilst both boxes were teased with attacks getting to the edge of the penalty area, neither goalkeeper was tested.
It wasn’t until the hour mark where the Everton shot-stopper was called to action as he palmed away Gorman’s latest attempt from the edge of the box.
A poor pass by Hudson almost resulted in an Everton goal for Foster but his weak shot was retrievable for the City ‘keeper.
And in an instant the game changed.
A pinpoint pass by Noble played Warhurst through on goal seconds after the opportunity for the Toffees.
The line-breaking pass allowed Warhurst to carry the ball to goal. He dispatched his chance with ease to make it four on 66 minutes.
A further positive for Reiss was the return of defenders Rhys Thomas and Harrison Parker, his squad almost at full strength as the fixture schedule ahead looks busier and busier.
Fighting to hold out for a clean sheet against an Everton side rejuvenated by substitutes was difficult in the final few minutes.
Parker attempted to tackle Josh Van Schoor on 88 minutes but caught the full-backs feet in the box which saw referee Samuel Bragg point to the penalty spot.
Hudson guessed the right way for George Morgan’s spot-kick but it was just out of reach as the game ended 4-1.
HOW WE LINED UP
Max Hudson earned another league appearance in goal and was protected by a defensive lined comprised of Dante Headley, Kian Noble, Kaden Braithwaite and Oliver Tevenan.
In midfield, Femi Fapetu, Finlay Gorman and Divine Mukasa were hard at work in City’s engine room.
Matty Warhurst led the attacking line in a familiar front three with Ryan McAidoo and Reigan Heskey on either flank.
CITY XI | Hudson, Headley (Thomas 68’), Noble, Braithwaite, Tevenan (Batty 72’), Fapetu (Parker 68’), McAidoo, Gorman, Warhurst (Fletcher 72’) Mukasa, R. Heskey.
SUBS | Grigg.
EVERTON XI | Lukjanciks, Akarakiri, Van Schoor, Davis, Thomas, Foster (Poland 72’), Clarke (Olayiwola 43’), Gardner, Morgan, Graham (Loney 72’), Catesby (Wren 90+2’)
SUBS | Gospel-Eze.
WHAT IT MEANS
Our winning run in the Under-18 Premier League North extends to 10.
And our latest three-point haul moves Reiss’s side top of the league table with 31 points, one more than Manchester United’s 30.
Our cross-city rivals have two games in hand.
UP NEXT
Our attention now turns to the FA Youth Cup.
We welcome last season’s semi-finalists Millwall to the Joie Stadium for a 19:00 (UK) kick-off on Thursday 16 January.
Every moment of the match will be available to watch live on CITY+ for fans in the United Kingdom.
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