Everton scorer:-
Walsh, 80

Spurs scorer:-
Townsend (pen), 83

Referee:- Mr. Paul Graham
Assistants:- Alex Kirkley & Alex Gray
Fourth official:- John Moorcroft

Teams:-
Everton (4-2-3-1):- Hewelt; Connolly (sub Walsh, 74), Thorniley, Holgate, Foulds; Williams, Davies; Charsley, Rodriguez (sub Evans, 69), McAleny; Byrne (sub Dowell, 62)

Subs not used:- Gray; Dyson

Booked:- McAleny (pulling Walker-Peters’ shirt), Davies (foul on Sonupe)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Voss; Walker-Peters, Carter-Vickers, Veljkovic (Capt.), Amos; Winks (sub Miller, 76), Lesniak; Townsend , Walkes, Georgiou (sub Sonupe, 69)

Subs not used:- McDermott; Hayford

Booked:- Walkes (foul)

It’s not all glamour in football, you know!

It’s not all glamour when you have press accreditation at Southport FC, who host some of the home games for the Everton U-21 side. The reserved car park is a very small patch of ground squeezed next to the ground, in front of which the Spurs coach was parked, on Haig Avenue on the public highway. Entrance was via standard turnstiles, and I had to mop up the desk in the press area, due to a leaky corrugated iron roof. I had to buy my own Bovril too! Southport were once a Football League side, but currently sit near the bottom of the National League (formerly known as The Conference). It is quite a nice pitch though, although the match was hampered by a driving rain, a cold wind, and a skiddy, slippery pitch. It’s not all glamour for the players either, you know!

I joined regular reporter Ray Lo for this game, but as Ray is off to Florida to cover the U-18s squad participation in the IMG tournament, I am stepping in with this report. We’ve already played Everton twice this season at this level. In August, we beat them 4-1 at Hotspur Way in a league game, but later that month we lost 4-1 at Goodison Park in the new U21 International Cup. Spurs have a final U-21 game of the year next Wednesday at Stevenage against Porto.

Both teams had changes in personnel compared to that last meeting. For Spurs both Ugo Ehiogu and Matt Wells prowled the technical area. Wells was a player in the Spurs Academy some 10 years ago, and is a grandson of Spurs legend Cliff Jones. David Unsworth was in charge of the Everton team.

Both teams used the “template” 4-2-3-1 formation. In Spurs’ case the team sought to play the Pochettino high press, but it was a variation on the theme as this team had two wingers, who were able to take on plenty of attacking responsibility. Mind you, both the full backs, Kyle Walker-Peters and Luke Amos got forward plenty of times. Andros Townsend played on the right wing, with Anthony Georgiou on the left. Townsend has now played in the last three U-21 games, and according to Ray, has been man of the match in two of those games. He probably deserved that accolade tonight for his 100% effort and application; some good crossing, intelligent passing, and not least for confidently planting an equalising penalty beyond the reach of Everton goalkeeper Mateusz Hewelt. Not everything Andros tried worked out, but most things certainly did.

Spurs had to deal with some early pressure from the “home” team, who forced several corners in the opening phase of the game. After 5 minutes, Voss in the Spurs goal was not convincing when seeking to catch Foulds’ corner kick from the right, and Davies hit the ball over the target in the following play. Spurs had to defend several more corners, but defend they did.

Now Spurs found their feet, and started to assert themselves high up the field, without truly testing the keeper. I was impressed with both Walkes and Winks’ close control in advanced midfield positions, whilst Filip Lesniak always looked a calming influence behind them. Winks was officially his defensive partner. Winks picked up a ball just inside the Everton half feeding Coulthirst in an inside left position, who won a corner. Soon after that Coulthirst was down in the box, but there really was no foul, despite his protestations.

Harry Voss did come out to the very edge of his area, bravely to the feet of Sam Byrne, who was threatening the goal. The threat was resisted. Townsend seemed to get almost his first touch after 16 minutes. His cross was just behind Coulthirst who had a novel attempt on goal, trying to hook the ball with his foot behind his body. Spurs now went through a phase of controlling the game, with good passing moves, but not enough cutting edge, and not enough threat on goal. Coulthirst picked up a ball deep in midfield, and ran it forward, feeding it to Georgiou, whose cross was cleared. Georgiou then combined with Walkes with good close quarter passing, before another useful Georgiou ball was cleared.

Spurs’ skipper Milos Veljkovic passed long to Georgiou, and Walkes won another Spurs corner. Veljkovic then suffered a blood injury in the 6 yard area when challenging for Townsend’s corner taken from the left.

Spurs made a good break following an Everton free kick, with Lesniak sending Townsend away down the right. However, this time Andros under-hit his pass to Coulthirst. Townsend soon showed extra determination in following up on a slightly loose ball, which ran for him, and turned into a pass for Coulthirst, who was frustrated by Hewelt’s save, as the striker shot on the turn. Just before the break Charsley had a shot blocked and Byrne hit the spinning ball wide.

The rain became more persistent and more driven as the players came out for the second half to brave the elements. There were only a moderate number of spectators in the main stand.

Kyle Walker-Peters made a good tackle in his own area upon Conor McAleny, who had scored against us at Goodison Park, and was always a danger with his spirited runs. However, it was McAleny who was first in the book for unfairly holding back Walker-Peters as the Spurs full back was about to advance into the Everton half. Walker-Peters then had a tricky moment in his area, when the ball ran two yards in front of his body, and Spurs’ defence had to come to the rescue.

Townsend was getting plenty of encouragement from Ehiogu, and started to really impose himself in this half. He responded to a call from Coulthirst, who fired over. A powerfully driven low cross from the other side by Georgiou caused the Everton defence some degree of panic, but they managed to clear. Townsend cut in from the right wing, and tried a left footed shot that was half defended, and almost converted by Coulthirst, before Everton cleared their lines.

There was a melee in the Spurs half involving all 20 outfield players after Everton’s Williams felt he had been unfairly hindered by Veljkovic with a raised arm, but no foul was given, and the referee had “words” with these two.

After 65 minutes, Everton hit the woodwork with a free kick taken by Connolly. Williams had stepped over the kick, and Voss had been beaten, but the ball re bounded clear off his left post. Rodriguez headed over from a Foulds cross, and Everton started to look dangerous on the break

For Spurs Emmanuel Sonupe replaced Georgiou and made an immediate impact, winning a corner, before making a powerful run into the box, having a powerful shot saved by Hewelt. David Unsworth took off his right back, and moved midfielder Davies to that position to try and stem Sonupe’s threat.

That worry about Everton scoring on the break came to fruition when McAleny made a sprint with the ball from the half way line down the left channel. He was forced towards the right by the Spurs defence, but he still threaded a ball to Everton substitute Walsh, who gleefully beat Voss from the right of the goal. Thankfully, and deservedly, Spurs came back immediately, when Sonupe was brought down in the box as he advanced upon goal. Townsend took charge; used the Harry Kane little run-up, and beat the keeper convincingly to his left.

The draw was the least we deserved, and Ray tells me that we are still second in this league, with Everton not far behind.

It’s not all glamour, you know. Most of you sat in your cosy armchairs watching Leicester beat Chelsea, no doubt with a big grin on your face. Some of us braved the cold and rain, but could also raise a smile at the efforts of our next generation of potential stars.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

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