No Everton team was said
MATCH REPORT FROM RUNCORN POV
Runcorn Town were beaten 7-1 by a young but very talented Everton U23 team in the latest pre-season friendly at Everton's Finch Farm training ground.
After an even start, Town took the lead after 11 minutes - Kieran Holsgrove getting on the end of a lovely ball from Dale Jennings and having time to turn and finish off the right hand post.
The lead only lasted four minutes. Josh Bowler, who played 28 games last season in the Championship for Hull City, struck the post for Everton, before Nathan Broadhead forced a good save from Adam Reid. The resulting corner was played short and eventually worked into the box for Broadhead to smash home from close range.
A minute later from a Town free kick 30 years out, Dale Jennings managed to get the ball up and over the wall but also over the bar. Everton then took control of the game and after forcing another good save from Adam Reid, scored twice in as many minutes.
The first on 28 mins came from a lovely crossfield ball to find Broadhead again, who cut inside to finish into the far corner. Then the Wales Under-21 International, who played 20 games for Burton Albion in League One last season, was again able to find space in the box to round Reid and complete a 12-minute hat-trick.
Town struggled playing into a stiff wind in the first half and chances were hard to come by. Reid was kept busy and had to make a couple more smart saves.
On 40 minutes Town were guilty of dwelling on the ball and allowed Josh Bowler to get on the end of a precise through ball to finish from the edge of the box to make it 4-1. Just before half time came Town’s best chance since the goal, Kieran Holsgrove’s free kick from the left headed over by Marcus James.
Everton increased their lead on 55 minutes - Rhys Hughes, who has been capped by Wales at Under-17 and Under-19 level, found a yard of space and finishing in off the post from 18 yards
There was almost an instant response from Town. Aidan Roxburgh floated a beautiful ball to the far post where Kevin Exell was lurking, but he was stretching to get the ball and couldn’t quite find the target with Everton clearing their lines.
Everton got a sixth just before the hour with a clever free kick routine from the right finding Broadhead again at the near post with the strker claiming his fourth goal of the afternoon.
Town were struggling to create chances, but one almost arrived on 68 minutes with the two strikers combining. Lewis Buckley’s cross from the right was just a yard in front of Ryan Cox who was ready to pounce before Everton cleared.
Everton had three further chances to further increase their lead, twice hitting the woodwork and also having a header cleared off the line by Aidan Roxburgh. And it was the Town left back who had the next opportunity. Liam Ward finding Roxburgh with a slick pass which allowed him to charge forward and force a good save from the keeper.
Town continued to push forward and Ryan Cox was unlucky not to get himself on the scoresheet, rattling the bar with a shot from 12 yards with the ball bouncing down before being cleared. It was Everton's star man Broadhead though who had the final word, getting on the end of a deflected shot to tap home his fifth a couple of minutes from the end.
Manager Paul McManus was pleased with the performance overall.
"I have to say thanks first off to Everton for hosting us today. It was a great learning experience for everyone and also a good thing for lads to be looking at lads who are pushing on at a Premier League club and learning from what they did at times today.
"Despite the scoreline there were plenty of positives from a footballing and tactical perspective which was very pleasing to see. We kept the ball very well at times and moved it with a purpose, scored a really good footballing goal and created a number of other good opportunities.
"The major difference was that they pounce on every half opportuntity they get but we are talking players who played in the Football League last season and who are Youth Internationals for their countries. Overall I am very pleased and proud of the club this evening and the lads should take a lot of positives from it."