Paul Tait’s team got back to winning ways and had something to smile about for the first time in a while as they overcame a determined Warrington Rylands on Monday evening at Walton Hall Park in the semi-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup.
They lined up as below with 22 year old Reece Welch captaining the side as the senior player and seeing the welcome return of George Pickford in goal following his loan at Southport. A big plus also was the return from injury of the classy central midfielder Harvey
Foster (pictured in team-sheet) and a second successive outing for Joel Catesby the winger who suffered a terrible injury last October.
The Toffees got off to a bright start but had Pickford to thank in the first few minutes for a smart save. It wasn’t long however until the returning Foster showed composure under pressure to pick out Loney who played in Catesby on the left wing. His measured cross was lashed home first time by young Shea Pita to give the Blues the lead in the 13th minute, 1-0.
That lead was doubled 4 minutes later when, after Olayiwola was fouled, quick thinking by Foster saw him find Luca Davis (seen in main picture) 30 yards from goal. No doubt buoyed by his recent goalscoring exploits, Davis thundered a 22 yard shot high into the net, a stunning effort for 2-0.
Warrington Rylands hit the bar and soon afterwards, after Everton failed to clear a corner, Hough scored another world-beater shot past Pickford, 3 very good goals and the scoreline now 2-1.
In the 2nd half, Catesby put over a teasing cross from the left wing and centre forward Loney did the sensible thing and teed up the unmarked Akarakiri to volley home neatly from 6 yards, 3-1.
The Cheshire side simply would not lie down and accept defeat however and their attacker Burton beat Blues’ defender Aled Thomas to an inviting left wing cross to power home and make it 3-2.
Blues defender Thomas showed his true skills shortly afterwards when he perfectly read and intercepted a Warrington breakaway and carried the ball fully 60 yards before setting up Olayiwola. Although there was a call for a penalty from the move as Olayiwola went to ground, it was probably the right call not to give it as contact was minimal. Final score 3-2, Everton through to the final.
Tait spoke to the Everton site after the game –
“I thought it was a good game. It was a good test for us against a men’s team and we stood up to the physical challenge well. They were a threat on the counter, but we had a lot of the ball and made some good chances.
“The first two goals in the first half were outstanding. The play down the side of the pitch and then Joel’s [Catesby] cross which was finished off brilliantly from Shea [Pita].
“That was nice to see and then we scored a screamer from 30 yards. That’s two from two, he’s just reminded me there! The boys looked like they enjoyed the game.”
About Catesby, he added –
“He was lively in the first half, wasn’t he?”
“He was direct, he looked a real threat. It is great having him back. I said it after the Birmingham game last week, after that horrible injury, we were all there, weren’t we, when it happened? It didn’t look good at all that night at Bradford and now we’re delighted to have him back.
“There’s more to come from Joel, so we’ve just got to keep building these minutes up.
“Unfortunately, the season’s going to come at a time when he’s probably chomping at the bit to keep playing, but it’s just good to have him back fit.”
The Blues, in their quest to retain the trophy, will find out which Runcorn team they will play, either Town or Linnets after their semi final on Sunday afternoon.
