OS Report.
http://www.evertonfc.com/fixtures/2...-league/norwich-city-u21-vs-everton-u21/match
Everton Under-21s returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Monday evening.
The young Blues converted some early pressure to open the scoring in spectacular fashion as
Kieran Dowell found the net with a stunning 25-yard drive midway through the first half.
The visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when
Antony Evans reacted quickest to a loose ball after
Harry Charsley saw his shot cannon back off the post.
Jamal Lewis ensured the Canaries would get on the scoresheet - but his close-range effort late on proved little more than a consolation.
The result is enough to see
David Unsworth’s side climb above Chelsea and Reading into fourth in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League table.
After a fairly frantic opening, the first genuine sight at goal came via a set piece. Evans took aim 20 yards from goal, curling the ball up and over the wall - but just wide of the target.
Evans threatened again moments later but an awkward bounce meant the 17-year-old could only prod over the crossbar from close range after smart work by
Mason Holgate to keep play alive.
The deadlock was eventually broken on 24 minutes - and it was another moment of magic from Dowell.
The Ormskirk-born midfielder found space 25 yards from goal, took aim and thumped the ball past a helpless Aston Oxborough to open the scoring.
A rare Norwich foray into Toffees territory saw Nathan Corkery connect with Reece Hall-Johnson’s low centre, but the forward could only divert his snapshot wide of the post.
Evans, who was deployed as the main striker on the night, eventually got his reward in the final minute of regulation time at the end of the first half.
Dowell was again involved, skipping past his marker before finding
Harry Charsley, whose shot crashed off the post before Evans reacted quickest to slam home and double the visitors’ advantage.
The second half was quiet in terms of chances, with Unsworth’s side controlling proceedings professionally for the most part.
Centre-backs
Callum Connolly and
Mason Holgateimpressed with assured performances, but the hosts finally managed to find a way through with five minutes remaining.
A deflected cross fell into the path of Lewis, who took a touch before firing past
Mateusz Hewelt form point-blank range.
But the Toffees had done enough for all three points - and will now begin preparations for a home game against Chelsea on Monday 11 April.
Norwich view.
http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich_city_u21s_1_everton_u21s_2_1_4482772
Norwich City U21s 1 Everton U21s 2
Norwich City U21s 1 Everton U21s 2
Nathan Corkery, left, and Benny Ashley-Seal of Norwich City U21s with Harry Charley of Everton U21s. Picture: Jason Dawson/Jasonpix
Everton claimed a well deserved victory in Norwich City’s final home game of their Under-21 Premier League campaign – despite a late rally from the Canaries.
Two goals in the first half saw the Toffees take firm control of a game watched by over 2,000 spectators at Carrow Road.
Jamal Lewis sparked hopes of a draw for the hosts in the 85th minute, thumping home from close range, but the organised visitors saw out the final minutes in professional style to keep hold of all three points.
Norwich welcomed centre-back Joe Crowe and winger Lewis back into U21 action following the pair’s spell away on international duty with the Northern Ireland U19s.
QPR attacking midfielder Nathan Corkery was also included in the home line-up, as the Republic of Ireland youth international was given the chance to impress in a trial game.
Young defender Timi Odusina, a member of the U16s squad, was also included among the substitutes having signed professional terms with City at the weekend.
The opening stages of the game offered little entertainment but saw some crunching tackles on both sides, with Ray Grant and Ebou Adams getting stuck in for the hosts in midfield.
Antony Evans curled a free-kick wide for the Toffees in the 17th minute and visiting skipper Joe Williams curled an effort straight at Aston Oxborough four minutes later.
Evans poked over from close range soon after when a free-kick was headed down into the area by Mason Holgate – and David Unsworth’s side soon saw their increase in tempo pay off.
Kieran Dowell unleashed a rocket from just short of 25 yards in the 24th minute and the swerve of the ball left Oxborough grasping at thin air as the visitors moved 1-0 in front.
The Canaries started to make improvements following the goal, with Michee Efete bursting forward from defence and lifting a shot onto the roof of the net in the 31st minute.
Lively play from Lewis on the right saw Corkery turns wide at the near post soon after but it was the away side who found the net again before the interval.
Dowell was again at the heart of the move, driving across the pitch to tee up Harry Charsley on the right side of the penalty area, Oxborough did well to tip the low shot onto his right-hand post but Evans was alive to the chance and slotted home the rebound for 2-0.
Glenn Middleton fired a powerful shot into the side-netting early in the second half, as the City youngster looked to impress watching first-team manager Alex Neil.
Efete was next to go close for City, heading over a corner from Grant in the 65th minute as Dmitri Halajko’s side started to get frustrated, with Ray Grant booked for a rash tackle on Williams in the 73rd minute.
The Canaries had roared back from 3-1 down to eventually draw 4-4 with Reading in their last home game though and found some of the spirit again to set up an exciting finish.
Substitutes Jamie-Eaton Collins and Louis McIntosh linked well on the edge of the box, with the latter’s shot deflecting into Lewis’s path to the right of the goal, who gratefully thumped home from six yards to halve the deficit.
The goal was not enough to spark a late onslaught though as Everton kept things simple to see out the game comfortably and take home the win they deserved.
City’s U21s now complete their season with away games at Leicester, Southampton and Liverpool, as they try to climb off the bottom of the Division One table.
Norwich: Oxborough; Hall-Johnson (C), Crowe, Efete, Ramsay; Grant, Adams (McIntosh 77); Middleton (Eaton-Collins 70), Corkery, Lewis; Ashley Seal. Unused subs: Beauchamp (GK), Pollock, Odusina.
Everton: Hewitt; Jones, Connolly, Holgate, Foulds; Davies; Charsley (Holland 84), Williams (C), Dowell, Dyson (Brewster 67); Evans (Baningime 88). Unused subs: Gray (GK), Feeney.
Attendance: 2,000 (estimated)
Referee: Mr N Hair
