Fan Report – Everton Reserves 0-1 Man Utd Reserves

Everton this evening played host to Manchester United reserves in this evening’s “home” clash in Widnes at the Halton Stadium.

Neil Holden opted for a 4-5-1 formation with Kieran Agard playing the lone striker role, supported from midfield by captain Dan Gosling, while the rest of the midfield was made up by Hope Akpan, Anton Peterlin (in his first start for the blues), Adam Forshaw and most surprisingly of all Jose Baxter, who according to the official site wasn’t even in the squad after reports in the local press that he had been arrested the previous morning.

In defence for the blues Seamus Coleman came in for his first start of the season as expected at right back after injuring his foot pre-season, Academy Scholars James McCarten and Aristote Nsiala partnered each other in the centre of defence and Jake Bidwell continued at left back with the experienced Carlo Nash keeping goal.

Man Utd included some familiar faces in their line up with Edwin Van Der Sar starting in goal, Raphael (or was it his brother Fabio???!!) at right back and Frederico “Kiko” Macheda starting up front.

In conditions not dissimilar from Belarus last Thursday night the game started brightly enough with Everton under pressure from the off as expected, however after a short time and some resolute, controlled defending from Everton – in particular the giant James McCarten – the young blues began to get a foot hold in the game.

When they gained position they passed the ball well with the ball zipping round on the saturated surface, Agard Held the ball up well, linking nicely with captain Dan Gosling sand Seamus Coleman looked busy down the right hand side.

After 10 minutes in Everton were on top, Gosling hit a 20 yard shot that skipped past Van Der Sar’s far post, the game was being played at a good pace with Everton playing neat and tidy football through midfield, Anton Peterlin looked composed in the ‘Carsley’ role, Jose Baxter was beginning to get into the game and it was him that created Everton’s best moment of the first half when he lifted the ball sublimely over a static United defence only for Agard to slice the ball wide from a tight angle.

Midway through the first half United started to come into the game more although they rarely threatened, the unlikely named Norwegian Joshua King lashed the ball high and wide after some good work in the Everton penalty area, Macheda only really seeing any of the ball when coming deep.

Everton continued to look neat and tidy on the ball 30 minutes in but their passing lacked accuracy in worsening conditions and Keiran Agard looking increasingly isolated up front on his own.

As the half progressed Manchester United enjoyed some possession of their own with Everton’s only effort’s on goal coming from Adam Forshaw’s shot from distance and Hope Akpan’s athletic volley on the stroke of half time which flew high over Edwin Van Der Sar’s crossbar.

2nd Half

As the conditions improved for the start of the second half, unfortunately Everton’s performance began to decline, United’s second string started the half with purpose, Everton’s packed midfield struggled to get hold of the ball with Robert Brady beginning to make in-roads down the blues left, Macheda found himself in space in the penalty area but shot tamely at Carlo Nash.

Everton seemed to settle after a bright opening from United with Coleman again showing his potential with some no nonsense defending.

Anton Peterlin continued his good form from the first half and Kieran Agard was working tirelessly up front although he was seeing very little of the ball, frustratingly though when the ball did come to him in the 55th minute his first touch let him down and United were allowed to break, Magnus Eikrem carried the ball to the edge of Everton’s penalty area, played a one – two with Brady and then slipped a killer pass through to Macheda which completely took the defence out of the equation and he showed good composure to slot the ball home under Carlo Nash.

1 – 0 United

On 60 minutes Neil Holden replaced Jose Baxter with Conor McAleny, Baxter had been one of Evertons best players in the first half but did little to catch the eye in the second.

As the entertaining battle between Seamus Coleman and Frederico Macheda continued Everton started to take control, forced to be more adventurous after going a goal behind Dan Gosling began to have more of an influence on the game and Luke Bidwell grew into the game at left back, showing good maturity despite being the youngest Everton player on the park.

Everton then enjoyed their best spell of the game, 15 minutes of sustained pressure saw United pressed back for the first time in the match, the introduction of Conor McAleny another player from the under 18′s (who incidentally had beaten United’s under 18′s the previous Saturday) was proving to be a shrewd move as his energy and intelligent running down the left began to cause United’s defence real problems, great work down the right saw Kieran Agard power into the box only for his cross across the 6 yard box to be touched to safety by Van Der Sar, the ball just eluding Dan Gosling who had charged into the United penalty area.

After 80 minutes Everton were still on top in what was proving to be a tough game for both sides, with United’s defence holding firm.

Dan Gosling found himself in a great attacking position however he was cynically fouled and nothing materialised from the resulting free kick.

On 82 minutes, the impressive Seamus Coleman was replaced by Zak Thompson, Conor McAleny continued to press well and in the 84th minute Adam Forshaw picked up the ball on the edge of the area and beat his man but his shot was well saved by Van Der Sar.

Kieran Agard had a decent shout for a penalty in the 87th minute but that ultimately turned out to be the young blues last chance of the game.

By David Carroll

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