Before the FA Youth Cup tie under the lights of Goodison Park on Wednesday night, **Leighton Baines**, celebrating his 40th birthday, was in typical level-headed mood in his pre-match interview. The ultimate professional, who graced the Toffees’ first team for over 13 seasons, is just as polished as a coach. You can see why the current crop of youngsters will listen to every word he says. He very much underplayed the role that first team squad member, **Harrison Armstrong**, might have to play in the game. He also gave credit to, and warning of, the strength that a team of the calibre of Nottingham Forest might bring. Yet, you could sense there was a confidence about what might be about to unfold. He never ‘bigged’ things up as a player so why should he do so now as a manager? It was a pleasant surprise to see Armstrong’s name on the teamsheet (below). He did indeed play as a #10:
With the previous stormy weather on Merseyside now gone, the youngsters had a fantastic opportunity to play at Goodison, some of them for the first time and they were immediately on the front foot with **Joel Catesby** and **Justin Clarke** looking lively while **George Pickford** was secure in goal for the Blues.
Indeed, after the Blues initial flurry of attacking was over, Forest came back into the game and Pickford was called into action several times before the Blues took the lead in the 24th minute. The goal itself saw a perfectly flighted free kick from midfielder **Harvey Foster** headed accurately home at the far post by **Armstrong**, 1-0. The goal is captured below:
After a foul on Armstrong in the 33rd minute, Foster again took a fine arced free kick into the penalty area. The tall Blues attacking contingent caused havoc in the visitors defence allowing our impressive centre back **Luca Davis** to gleefully smash the ball home, 2-0.
Probably the pick of the goals on the night came next as a powerful right wing run by Clarke saw him pull the ball back to Armstrong. He delightfully back-heeled the ball into the path of the in-rushing **Catesby** who stroked the ball home in classy fashion, 3-0.
A minute later, Armstrong was showing his range of flicks once more as he laid the ball back perfectly for **George Morgan** to smash the ball into the goalkeeper’s face and out for a corner. The Toffees were rampant at this stage.
Just before the half was finished, another exciting move saw Catesby’s left wing cross met on the volley by 16 year old midfielder **Melvin Matos**. He was so close to scoring as his shot beat the angle by inches with the goalkeeper rooted. Half-time, 3-0.
Any thoughts that the Blues would take their foot off the gas were quickly dispelled. It was in the 49th minute the score was put undoubtedly beyond Forest. Foster, again, played an inviting ball towards the opposition area and **Armstrong**’s physical presence panicked the covering defender into letting the ball bounce. This left the #10 with a shot on goal from 12 yards which he gratefully accepted, 4-0.
Armstrong was irrepressible by fair means and after a stonewall penalty against him was denied by the increasingly sympathetic referee, almost immediately, he played a perfect through ball to **Clarke** who cut inside his marker before shooting left-footed home for 5-0.
After 74 minutes, Armstrong again played a nicely weighted through ball for **Morgan**. The young Welsh centre forward, who had worked tirelessly all game, beat the goalkeeper and defender to the pass and neatly slotted home with his left foot, 6-0.
One of the many 2nd half substitutes, young Scottish centre forward **Ceiran Loney**, then saw a fine shot beat the goalkeeper before hitting the post but he could only find the side-netting from the rebound. He was gutted!
With the last action of the game, with the substituted Foster’s pinpoint deliveries gone, right back **George Finney** took a lovely deep corner and **Armstrong**, with an identical header to his first goal, climbed high to make the night complete, 7-0.
For **man-of-the-match** it’s hard to look beyond the complete performance of **Harrison Armstrong**. He completed 94 minutes and was magnificent on the night. Although the playing levels of the Premiership are way higher than the FA Youth Cup, in my opinion, it is frustrating currently to see several hit-or-miss (or even inept) performances by experienced professionals blocking his path to the first team. He is physically powerful, skilful, positionally aware of everything around him and has stamina to burn. I, for one, don’t understand Dyche’s reluctance. Oh, by the way, he scores and assists goals, 3 of each on the night. He’s 17, not 18 until next month _**but**_ he’s got real talent, not potential, talent!
On the night there were also many other very strong performances through the spine of the team ranging from Pickford in goal, Davis at centre back, Foster in centre midfield, and Morgan up front. Wingers Catesby and Clarke had impressive moments too. It was a proper team performance, it just so happened that Armstrong was excellent.
Happy 40th birthday Gaffer!
The highlights from the game are below: