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Player Valuation: £70m
An 80th minute header from captain Simon Lenighan proved to be the winner as the game was played in difficult windy conditions.
Everton were not deprived of chances but were denied by Eric Grimes the Leeds keeper who probably saved his best performance of the season for this particular day with some outstanding saves. Ian Snodin was watching as his son Jordan played for Leeds and ex Everton director Keith Tamlin was also in attendance.
Leeds United got the game underway wearing an all back kit with lime green trimmings giving Everton the advantage of the wind in the first half.
Fiztgibbon was called upon twice in the first ten minutes then a lucky escape from Everton with Leeds number 9 Dominic Poleon shooting on goal only to see his team mate Walters block the shot on the line.
Moments later Everton were unlucky from a free kick which was taken by Molyneux as Pennington rose tall above his markers to head over but was encouraging.
On 17 minutes Chris Long’s 25 yard effort was goalbound with Grimes’s two feet leaving the floor as he made an impressive two handed save and hold onto the ball. Forrester was also close with good work down the left from Jasper Johns.
Fitzgibbon kept his team in the game with a good reaction save from Charlie Clamp on the half hour as Everton were looking the strongest outfit with Leeds always looking a danger.
Walters and Clamp again were denied from Fitzgibbon who was in fine form.
Everton had a good shout for a penalty when Orenuga ran into the box and there looked to be contact from Lewis Turner (who’s twin brother was also in defence )the Leeds fullback but Mr Dowd the match official was not convinced.
9 minutes from the break Grimes made a double stop after Johns had made a good run down the left, his high cross eluded three Leeds defenders then met by Orenuga who was denied then on rebound the ball kindly fell to a Forrester connection only for Grimes to save with a foot.
HALF TIME EVERTON U18’S 0 LEEDS UNITED U18’S 0
Leeds as they did in the first half started off the brighter of the two forcing a series of corners and making good use of the wind.
Killock came close to opening the score for the visitors only to see his header sail over the bar, Poleon showed a tremendous determination shrugging off Touray and Hammar in the box as he had the goal in his sights but ran the ball out of play.
Everton’s best move of the game came on 70 minutes which was started by Hope who replaced Orenuga, a three man move with Hope, Long and Forrester involved ended when a floating ball met the head of Hope who seemed to hang in the air but unfortunately saw his effort agonisingly soar over the bar.
A chance for either side went begging as first Forrester was denied yet again with Grimes saving with his feet and at the other end a long ball from the visitors sent Walters on his way and left him with Fitzgibbon to beat, Fitzgibbon advanced off his line to restrict Walters but quick thinking Walters should have done better and his reaction told that story as his effort went straight into the midriff of the ‘keeper.
Grimes made the save of the game in the latter stages when Hope’s run down the right found Forrester’s head with a pin point cross but it had to be a great save to keep the ball out which looked a certain goal.
Moments later on 81 minutes Everton were dealt a cruel blow as Leeds went in front following a corner from Walters. His effort was met with precision and power and his unstoppable header crashed into the net.
The game was always going to be settled by a goal and once the ice was broken there was only going to be one winner.
The last 5 minutes Fitzgibbon remained focussed to deny Walters with his foot after Walters had beaten Touray and again the Everton keeper got his team mates out of jail a further two times, first with save after the defence failed to deal with Poleon and the second a dive to his right from the menace Poleon again.
Some good performances from Molyneux, Jones Hope Forrester but Pennington was going to be man of the match with a great defensive display dealing with Leeds high balls and looked very commanding but the award will have to go to the both goalkeepers with a great show.
Everton 18's take on Middlesbrough on Tuesday at Finch Farm before the visit of Manchester United next Saturday to bring the curtain down on the season.
FULL TIME EVERTON U18’S 0 LEED UNITED U18’S 1
Teams
Everton: Fitzgibbon, Shannon, Touray, Pennington, Hammar, Molyneux, Orenuga( Hope 60), Jones, Long, Forrester, Johns Unused Subs; Heneghan, Waring, Green Springthorpe (GK)
Coach Kevin Sheedy
Leeds United : Grimes, Gimpel. Lewis Turner, Nathan Turner, Qualter, Killock. Lenighan(c), Walters, Poleon, Clamp, Snodin. Unused subs. Atkinson, Skelton, Mowatt, Parkin, Ions
Coach Neil Redfearn
Match Officials Ref Mr J Dowd Assistants Mr L Corrigan and Mr M Groves
The Under 16's drew 1-1 with George Green bursting the net with a free kick
Everton were not deprived of chances but were denied by Eric Grimes the Leeds keeper who probably saved his best performance of the season for this particular day with some outstanding saves. Ian Snodin was watching as his son Jordan played for Leeds and ex Everton director Keith Tamlin was also in attendance.
Leeds United got the game underway wearing an all back kit with lime green trimmings giving Everton the advantage of the wind in the first half.
Fiztgibbon was called upon twice in the first ten minutes then a lucky escape from Everton with Leeds number 9 Dominic Poleon shooting on goal only to see his team mate Walters block the shot on the line.
Moments later Everton were unlucky from a free kick which was taken by Molyneux as Pennington rose tall above his markers to head over but was encouraging.
On 17 minutes Chris Long’s 25 yard effort was goalbound with Grimes’s two feet leaving the floor as he made an impressive two handed save and hold onto the ball. Forrester was also close with good work down the left from Jasper Johns.
Fitzgibbon kept his team in the game with a good reaction save from Charlie Clamp on the half hour as Everton were looking the strongest outfit with Leeds always looking a danger.
Walters and Clamp again were denied from Fitzgibbon who was in fine form.
Everton had a good shout for a penalty when Orenuga ran into the box and there looked to be contact from Lewis Turner (who’s twin brother was also in defence )the Leeds fullback but Mr Dowd the match official was not convinced.
9 minutes from the break Grimes made a double stop after Johns had made a good run down the left, his high cross eluded three Leeds defenders then met by Orenuga who was denied then on rebound the ball kindly fell to a Forrester connection only for Grimes to save with a foot.
HALF TIME EVERTON U18’S 0 LEEDS UNITED U18’S 0
Leeds as they did in the first half started off the brighter of the two forcing a series of corners and making good use of the wind.
Killock came close to opening the score for the visitors only to see his header sail over the bar, Poleon showed a tremendous determination shrugging off Touray and Hammar in the box as he had the goal in his sights but ran the ball out of play.
Everton’s best move of the game came on 70 minutes which was started by Hope who replaced Orenuga, a three man move with Hope, Long and Forrester involved ended when a floating ball met the head of Hope who seemed to hang in the air but unfortunately saw his effort agonisingly soar over the bar.
A chance for either side went begging as first Forrester was denied yet again with Grimes saving with his feet and at the other end a long ball from the visitors sent Walters on his way and left him with Fitzgibbon to beat, Fitzgibbon advanced off his line to restrict Walters but quick thinking Walters should have done better and his reaction told that story as his effort went straight into the midriff of the ‘keeper.
Grimes made the save of the game in the latter stages when Hope’s run down the right found Forrester’s head with a pin point cross but it had to be a great save to keep the ball out which looked a certain goal.
Moments later on 81 minutes Everton were dealt a cruel blow as Leeds went in front following a corner from Walters. His effort was met with precision and power and his unstoppable header crashed into the net.
The game was always going to be settled by a goal and once the ice was broken there was only going to be one winner.
The last 5 minutes Fitzgibbon remained focussed to deny Walters with his foot after Walters had beaten Touray and again the Everton keeper got his team mates out of jail a further two times, first with save after the defence failed to deal with Poleon and the second a dive to his right from the menace Poleon again.
Some good performances from Molyneux, Jones Hope Forrester but Pennington was going to be man of the match with a great defensive display dealing with Leeds high balls and looked very commanding but the award will have to go to the both goalkeepers with a great show.
Everton 18's take on Middlesbrough on Tuesday at Finch Farm before the visit of Manchester United next Saturday to bring the curtain down on the season.
FULL TIME EVERTON U18’S 0 LEED UNITED U18’S 1
Teams
Everton: Fitzgibbon, Shannon, Touray, Pennington, Hammar, Molyneux, Orenuga( Hope 60), Jones, Long, Forrester, Johns Unused Subs; Heneghan, Waring, Green Springthorpe (GK)
Coach Kevin Sheedy
Leeds United : Grimes, Gimpel. Lewis Turner, Nathan Turner, Qualter, Killock. Lenighan(c), Walters, Poleon, Clamp, Snodin. Unused subs. Atkinson, Skelton, Mowatt, Parkin, Ions
Coach Neil Redfearn
Match Officials Ref Mr J Dowd Assistants Mr L Corrigan and Mr M Groves
The Under 16's drew 1-1 with George Green bursting the net with a free kick
