alan ball
Player Valuation: £70m
It was top vs bottom today at Finch Farm as Everton needed to get back on winning ways after their last defeat at Bolton last Saturday. The game was played in warm sunshine as Everton attacked towards the gatehouse which must be their preffered choice. it was difficult to tell which team was top or bottom as chances were few and far between as the visitors seemed to look the better of the two sides in the opening 20 mins having only a half chance which the blues keeper Connor Roberts gathered comfortably. around the half way stage in the first half Everton started to step up the game and get more into it and had a near miss where the ball came in from the left and Hope and Forrester could not seize the chanse as the ball went narrowly acroos the goalmouth and out for a goal kick .Any long high balls that went into the area from our visitors were dealt with comfortably by a good defensive partnership of Danny Murphy and Johan Hammar as the two teams went in at the break goalless.
The second half got underway and no changes were made by the home side and the blues got a goal in the first ten minuites of the 2nd half where the ball came in from the left and Adam Thomas and Anton Forrester were hopeful to get on the end of it but neither did and Jordan Barrow was there to tap in and the blues were one up. Everton were now in control and looked more confident which i think that was lacking in the first half and another chance was created when Adam Thomas put Anton Forrester through with a one on one with the keeper and somehow managed to put the ball wide of the right post and Forrester sank to his knees in disbelief. Everton were now on top and Stoke attacked on the counter and chances were few and far between leaving Roberts in the Everton goal with quite an easy afternoon. Everton had another chance near the end where Lundsram tried his luck but Parton in the Stoke goal saved with ease. Tyias Browning was replaced by number 14 Adam Cummins in the last couple of minuites after Browning seemed to take a heay knock. The ref blew his whistle for full time and a 3-0 scoreline would have looked more realistic but Everton got back to winning ways and another 3 points in the bag and remain top on goal difference from Manchester City with a game in hand. The man of the match was between Tom Donegan in midfield and either of the defesive pair of Murphy or Hammer. Hallam Hope was very quiet today but has just returned from injury missing out on the win at Marine in the Liverpool senior Cup last Tuesday evening.
1 Connor Roberts
2 Tyias Browning
3 Jake Bidwell (c)
4 Daniel Murphy
5 Johan Hammar
6 John Lundstram
7 Jordan Barrow
8 Tom Donegan
9 Hallam Hope
10 Anton Forrester
11 Adam Thomas
Subs 12 Ryan Higgins, 13 Russell Higgins, 14 Adam Cummins, 15 Femi Orenuga 16 Chris Long
The second half got underway and no changes were made by the home side and the blues got a goal in the first ten minuites of the 2nd half where the ball came in from the left and Adam Thomas and Anton Forrester were hopeful to get on the end of it but neither did and Jordan Barrow was there to tap in and the blues were one up. Everton were now in control and looked more confident which i think that was lacking in the first half and another chance was created when Adam Thomas put Anton Forrester through with a one on one with the keeper and somehow managed to put the ball wide of the right post and Forrester sank to his knees in disbelief. Everton were now on top and Stoke attacked on the counter and chances were few and far between leaving Roberts in the Everton goal with quite an easy afternoon. Everton had another chance near the end where Lundsram tried his luck but Parton in the Stoke goal saved with ease. Tyias Browning was replaced by number 14 Adam Cummins in the last couple of minuites after Browning seemed to take a heay knock. The ref blew his whistle for full time and a 3-0 scoreline would have looked more realistic but Everton got back to winning ways and another 3 points in the bag and remain top on goal difference from Manchester City with a game in hand. The man of the match was between Tom Donegan in midfield and either of the defesive pair of Murphy or Hammer. Hallam Hope was very quiet today but has just returned from injury missing out on the win at Marine in the Liverpool senior Cup last Tuesday evening.
1 Connor Roberts
2 Tyias Browning
3 Jake Bidwell (c)
4 Daniel Murphy
5 Johan Hammar
6 John Lundstram
7 Jordan Barrow
8 Tom Donegan
9 Hallam Hope
10 Anton Forrester
11 Adam Thomas
Subs 12 Ryan Higgins, 13 Russell Higgins, 14 Adam Cummins, 15 Femi Orenuga 16 Chris Long
