Everton u21s beat a full strength Solihull Moors side 2-1 in the National League Cup in the first u21 outing of the season.
Braiden Graham was the game changer after coming on as a substitute and scoring twice to turn the game after Everton struggled in the early stages. He bustled his way into the box to fire in a first before a superb dink over the keeper late on to win the game.
It is the first time Everton are competing in the tournament, which pits Premier League u21 sides against National League teams, and the early stages demonstrated the step up to first team football for a young Everton side.
They were without Reece Welch, midfielder Francis Gomez, last season’s top scorer Omari Benjamin and striker Martin Sherif, and the young side found themselves 1-0 down early on thanks to a stunning long range strike from Solihull Moors.
While Will Tamen and Aled Thomas were excellent in defence, a midfield of Jack Patterson, Callum Bates and Isaac Heath struggled to find their rhythm and Everton’s passing was poor against Solihull’s impressive press.
The highlights in a disappointing first half was George Finney at right back. The defender has stepped up to the u21s with ease and his forays forward were Everton’s main threat. He was also on corner duty but despite some good deliveries Everton failed to test the goalkeeper. Finney will likely get plenty of opportunities at right back amid Roman Dixon’s rumoured loan move to Stockport County this year.
After half time Everton made substitutions and things improved. Jacob Beaumont-Clark provided width on the right while Braiden Graham dropped deep from the left and started to dictate play. Suddenly Francis Okoronkwo, who was isolated up front first half, became an effective target man, combining beautifully with Graham on a number of occasions. Okoronkwo, as well as the subdued Isaac Heath, is a candidate for a loan or permanent move away this summer.
The headlines will belong to Graham, who was already making a nuisance of himself in midfielder when he bustled into the box, shrugged off a defender and slotted past the goalkeeper for the equaliser.
Late in the game Finney raided down the right again, Patterson picked out Okoronkwo up front and he slide a lovely through ball to Graham, whose dink over the goalkeeper was good enough to win a game at any level.
It was a good win for a young and experienced team and all the focus will be on Graham’s superb start to the season. Questions could be asked of the formation in the first half and the number of players out of position – Odin Samuel-Smith struggled in an unfamiliar left back role and Heath did not lot comfortable in a central position – but the nice interchanges between attackers in the second half is promising.
This u21 team remains an entertaining one, capable of scoring goals but also conceeding. Keeping Tamen fit will be key to improved defensive solidarity this season and the progress of Graham will be sure to excite Evertonians.