Everton u21s clinched silverware to finish off their season after beating Lower Breck 4-1 in the Liverpool Senior Cup Final.
Kingsford Boakye, Martin Sherif, George Morgan and a wonder goal from Braiden Graham gave Everton the win despite falling behind within a minute and allowed them to end the season on a high.
The tournament, one of Liverpool’s oldest competitions, has now been won by Everton 47 times, six more than Liverpool. It was their first win since 2016 in the tournament.
Everton named a strong squad at Walton Hall Park with Fraser Barnsley in goal and a defence made up of youngsters Aled Thomas and Odin Samuels-Smith, alongside more senior players in Reece Welch, Tyler Onyango and Roman Dixon.
In midfield the Toffees opted for Francis Gomez and Callum Bates, with Jacob Beaumont-Clark and Kingsford Boakye on the wings. Martin Sherif, who scored two in a semi final win over Warrington Rylands, started up front.
Ninth tier Lower Breck, who are celebrating promotion to the eighth tier of English football in just their 15th season since the club was founded, scored after just 45 seconds and were the better team for large parts of the first half as Everton struggled to string passes together.
However, Kingsford Boakye seized on a cross to score just before half time and within a minute of the restart Aled Thomas, playing as a makeshift left back despite starring at centre half at u18 level, found Sherif’s head with a wonderful cross. The Dutch striker nodded in to continue his good goalscoring form.
Welsh striker George Morgan, on as a substitute, then made it 3-1 by firing in after Sherif’s knockdown.
Everton were reduced to ten men when Francis Gomez, signed from Gambia last year and back from a loan at Lyon’s u21 side, was sent off for a second yellow card with ten minutes to go to give Lower Breck some hope.
However, Northern Irish youngster Braiden Graham scored a superb solo goal, running from halfway and beating two defenders before firing home, to make it 4-1.
It was a good second half display from Everton and the promise of Sherif, Morgan and Graham up front will give Everton’s staff headaches next season. Sherif is probably more likely to head out on loan for first team experience but Graham’s meteoric rise could also bag him a move away or first team involvement at some point next year.
There is plenty of other talent too. Fraser Barnsley is now a Northern Ireland u21 international goalkeeper and could secure a loan move away, while Callum Bates has seen Everton first team action after being named as a substitute earlier in the season.
Out of the younger players Jacon Beaumont-Clark is highly regarded at the club and should spend plenty of time with the u21s next season.
Elsewhere it may be the last time we see Reece Welch and Tyler Onyango in Everton shirts. The veterans of the team are in their 20s now and will probably seek moves elsewhere in the summer.
Everton u21s’ Premier League 2 season ended with playoff defeat to Manchester United last week but a top eight finish ensured qualification for the International Cup, which will see them face u21 teams from the best academies in Europe.