Everton U18s 1-1 Manchester United U18s: Match report
In late drama at Finch Farm, Manchester United’s Under-18s were held to a draw by Everton on Saturday afternoon.
United goalkeeper George Dorrington made a crucial save, only four minutes into the game to prevent The Toffees from taking the lead, as they came flying out of the traps, much to the surprise of United. Only a few minutes later Dorrington’s goal was under attack as Nathan Broadhead fired his shot over the bar after getting clean through on goal.
The half settled down more after the early flurry, with United failing to get any chances of note on goal in the first half. Everton going into lead would not have been undeserved considering their stranglehold on the game, however, the two sides went in even.
The second half, however, continued in the same vein as the first, and they got as close as they had done in the whole game, hitting the woodwork midway through the half. United then, in one of their rare forays into the Everton box, had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down. This though seemed to inspire The Red Devils as, after a flowing move typical of this year’s Under-18s, Jordan Thompson calmly slotted home from the edge of the box to give United the lead after 74 minutes.
Due to their near dominance, Everton responded as though they’d witnessed an injustice, pressing hard for an equaliser, one which eventually came in the 90th minute of all times. It was through one of what would be two crucial free kicks in the games’ closing stages. Ruairi Croskery conceded a cheap free kick near the edge of the box and Dorrington was powerless to stop Antony Evans’ effort finding the top corner.
The second of these two crucial free kicks was United’s, specifically, Devonte Redmond’s. His good effort was stopped superbly by Everton ‘keeper Mateusz Hewelt in the final moments of the game in which proved to be the last chance for either side to claim all three points.
Both sides remain challengers for the title but both sides will be frustrated not to make up further ground on Middlesbrough with one of their games in hand, especially as United could have overtaken Everton with a win. However, the United youngsters should be happy with the point as on another day it could have been a different, much worse story. Positives can be taken away from Merseyside though as their unbeaten run in the play-offs remains intact and, with players to come back into the fold soon from injury, they’ll fancy their chances next time around.