Everton number nine Martin Sherif’s sharp-shooting enabled him to take the badge of honour in the Under-18s Merseyside Derby at Finch Farm as he fired his side ahead before Coby Ebere added a second in a deserved 2-1 victory.
The Blues striker kept his cool seven minutes before half-time to slot smartly past Liverpool keeper Luke Hewitson after being played through by Jacob Beaumont-Clark after a defensive mix-up from the visitors saw Kerron Samuels dispossessed.
It was only one of two times the magnificent Hewitson was beaten as his string of fine saves kept Everton at bay and then from adding to their advantage. Home boss Leighton Baines and his staff had his side up for this contest from the start but the Blues’ best left-back of the Premier League era was also determined to get the message across to his young players that they needed to keep their heads among the blood and thunder of a contest against their neighbours.
EXCLUSIVE: Frank Lampard opens up on next stage of plan after Everton 'reality check'
READ MORE: Brazil hopes dampened at Everton after bold claim 'this is the football city of England'
Everton started on the front foot with much of their threat coming from left winger Ebere’s powerful running and when his shot from a tight angle was tipped around the post by Hewitson it was a foretaste of what was to come. The Blues then attacked down the other flank as right-back Daniel Maher overlapped to pick out Sherif but after the striker swivelled and shot, Hewitson tipped his effort away for a corner.
Hewitson was called into action again as he parried a powerful shot from Ebere but with the game still goalless, Liverpool threatened on the counter with Jayden Danns’ shot having to be deflected wide after Ranel Young capitalised on some defensive hesitancy. Everton’s Sam Coughlan then had to make a crucial last-ditch challenge to deny Tommy Pilling with the goal gaping in a six-yard box scramble after Graham had saved.
The Blues’ hard work at both ends of the field was rewarded though when Sherif pounced for the only goal just moments after Coughlan had sprinted across the pitch to make a clearance on the opposite side while after taking the lead, Beaumont-Clark couldn’t believe he’d been denied from doubling the hosts’ advantage when Hewitson turned his close range shot away for a corner.
Callum Bates was also denied by a smart stop by the Liverpool number one as the first half came to a close and Everton were left to hope they wouldn’t rue their string of missed opportunities in what was a much cagier second half. At one point Baines could be heard telling his young charges to “just settle down” and while Liverpool were hardly knocking on the door in what for a time developed into a war of attrition, the hosts needed a clearance off the line from Ishe Samuels-Smith before Ebere emphatically doubled their lead.
A thorn in the Reds’ side all game, the winger cut inside from the left to crash a powerful shot into the roof of Hewitson’s net and although Liverpool reduced arrears a couple of minutes before the end when Kyle Kelly poked in at the back post from a corner kick, Everton held their nerve to take the points.
Everton XI: Dylan Graham, Daniel Maher, Harry Wright (Charlie Wilson 53), Jack Tierney, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Jack Patterson (Shae Cahill 85), Jacob Beaumont-Clark, Callum Bates, Martin Sherif, Sam Coughlan (Troy Smikle-James 75), Coby Ebere (Joel Catesby 85).
READ NEXT:
- Everton confirm major step in stadium project with 'unique' brick build revealed
- Exclusive: Tom Cannon sends message to Frank Lampard after 'surreal' Everton experience
- Frank Lampard will be hoping he's just had his own David Moyes watershed Everton moment
- Everton may have three new first-team options after unexpected Australia boost
- Everton confirm major step in stadium project with 'unique' brick build revealed
