Everton took an early lead after Josh van Schoor fired his first-time finish into the back of the City net from close range.
Our young boys in blue fired back quickly. Ashton Muir was in the right place at the right time to tap home Brooklyn Nfonkeu’s cross just over 10 minutes after the restart.
And City took the lead for the first time shortly after the half-hour mark when Matty Warhurst headed home Nfonkeu’s cross in his third PL2 start of the season.
Everton responded with Braiden Graham levelling the score shortly after half-time.
In a cagey second half, Christian McFarlane was shown a second yellow card, leaving City with one less body to play out the final five minutes.
The game continued to spiral when Stephen Mfuni fouled substitute Martin Sherif in the box and the forward converted the penalty to see City lose out vital league points.
WHAT HAPPENED
As we entered the second half of the league phase, a cold Finch Farm played host to our 11th PL2 fixture.
With their first attack of the game on three minutes, Everton took the lead. Full-back van Schoor fired home a low-driven ball from the right.
But it didn’t take long for Wilkinson’s side to retaliate. Kian Noble played a perfectly weighted pass down the right and Nfonkeu used his pace to latch on to the ball.
The full-back played a low ball into the box, and waiting to tap home was Muir for his second league goal of the season.
The intensity of the match didn’t waver from either team, but it was City who enjoyed more of the ball and with it the possibility to find the advantage before the break.
And our hard work was rewarded when Nfonkeu got his second assist of the match on 38 minutes, teeing up Warhurst beautifully at the back post, with the City number nine heading home.
But our lead dissipated instantly as the momentum continued to yo-yo.
Less then a minute after the restart, Toffees winger Graham tapped home from close range in an almost carbon copy goal to Everton’s first of the afternoon.
The second half proved to be a cagier affair as both teams battled hard for three vital points.
Despite City looking the better side, Everton’s quick counters continued to cause issues as time ticked on.
The game began to slip out of our control when McFarlane was dismissed after a second bookable offence.
Two minutes later Everton substitute Sherif won the Toffees a penalty and converted the spot-kick to give the hosts the lead on 88 minutes.
A final throw of the dice from Wilkinson’s side saw substitute Harrison Parker almost head home a late equaliser deep into stoppage time.
But the final whistle rang around Finch Farm as City fell to a second successive defeat in all competitions.
TEAMS
EVERTON XI | Pickford, Samuels-Smith, van Schoor, Welch, Campbell, Patterson, Boakye, Olayiwola (Sherif 52’), Benjamin, Bates, Graham.
SUBS | Lukjanciks, Thomas, Moonan, Loney.
CITY XI | Brits, Nfonkeu, Noble, Mfuni, McFarlane, Braithwaite, Muir, Gray, Warhurst, T. Samba, R. Heskey.
SUBS | Wint, Parker, Fapetu, Dada-Mascoll, Sangare.
AS A RESULT
City sit 13th in the PL2 table, two points above the drop.
UP NEXT
We remain focused on our PL2 fight for a place in the top 16.
Our next match will see us travel to Stoke City on Friday 30 January, with kick-off set for 14:00 (UK).
Fans with a CITY+ subscription will be able to watch every moment of the game live on CITY+.
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