Everton under-18s suffered late heartbreak after Ronnie McGrath struck two minutes from time to rescue Leeds United a point at Thorp Arch.
Leighton Baines’ side arrived in Yorkshire looking to continue their impressive form after recent league wins over Liverpool and Derby County. While the young Blues booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup last time out.
Everton ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Reading at Goodison Park just over a week ago after goals from Francis Oronkwo, Halid Djankpata and Owen Barker. And Baines’ side, who will face either Lincoln City or Watford in the next round, picked up from where they’d left off here.
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Everton, who started brightly, eventually broke the deadlock through Martin Sherif nine minutes before the half-time interval. The goal was the Dutch forward’s fourth in nine appearances so far this season.
And just as it looked as though the young Blues would be returning to Merseyside with all three points, McGrath struck with two minutes of normal time remaining to break Everton hearts.
The result leaves Baines' side fifth in the under-18 Premier League North table, nine points behind leaders Sunderland, heading into the Christmas break.
The young Blues are next in action when they take on Middlesbrough at Finch Farm on Saturday, January 7, before they take on Liverpool at The Academy a week later.
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