Chris Beesley's player ratings from Everton's 4-2 win after extra-time against Ipswich Town in the FA Youth Cup fifth round at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton triumphed 4-2 after extra-time against Ipswich Town in an entertaining, topsy-turvy and sometimes fiery FA Youth Cup fifth round tie at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Shea Pita fired Keith Southern’s side ahead after just five minutes, but their lead last barely another 120 seconds as Charlie Compton equalised, getting injured in the process and being forced off before Sidney Eldred put the Suffolk outfit into the lead by crashing the ball into the roof of the net on 35 minutes.
For long periods it looked like the young Blues were going to suffer the same fate as their first team counterparts, who surrendered a lead to lose to Bournemouth at the same venue just 48 hours later, but deep into stoppage time, Braiden Graham curled in a cool right-foot finish to take the tie into extra time.
Author avatar
Author avatar
The Northern Ireland Under-19s international then turned provider in the first minute of the second half of extra-time as he put in a cross from the left-hand side of the area for substitute Ray Robert to fire home from close range.
Then, with just three minutes remaining, Everton were gifted a fourth goal as Ipswich keeper Josh Bentley got in a mix-up with substitute Stevy Brouwers and kicked an attempted clearance against his team-mate, which rebounded into the net.
Douglass Lukjanciks 6
Will be desperately disappointed to have been not given more protection by his defence as he conceded two goals on a night when he barely had a save of note to make but held on well to an effort from Ipswich captain Charlie Wood when finally tested in extra time.
Rocco Lambert 7
A promising, forward-thinking display at right-back in what has long been a problem position for David Moyes’ first team, he overlapped well for Everton’s early goal, latching on to Graham’s pass to provide the assist for Pita with a smart cross.
Louis Poland 6
Also got forward well to provide a clutch of crosses in what was a combative display as his fisticuffs with Ipswich’s Will Unadike early in the second half saw both players booked and most of their respective team-mates pile into a mass melee.
Lewis Evans 6
Made a monster firm but fair challenge on Ipswich dangerman Jayden Adetiba when covering at right-back and showed touches of the kind of physicality required to make it as a centre-back in senior football.
Harlow McEveley 5
Needed to be stronger in the crucial moment when Ipswich number nine Sidney Eldred shrugged him off to fire the visitors ahead with a shot crashed into the roof of the Everton net.
Melvin Matos 7
Kept things ticking over with some clever passes before making way, including one to set up Braiden Graham for his big chance that he should have scored from.
Shea Pita 8
Starting on the right wing, he fired Everton ahead just five minutes into the contest, taking a touch before delivering a decisive right-foot finish before switching to the left and remaining one of the hosts’ liveliest performers and showing some deft touches.
Ademide Akarakiri 7
A few loose touches early on, he nevertheless remained a handful and was a hard-running presence in the engine room, offering an increased threat when Ipswich’s defence was tiring in extra time.
Ceiran Loney 6
Led the line for Everton in determined fashion but couldn’t find a breakthrough with his biggest chance coming late in the first half when he shot wide at the near post from Louis Poland’s left-wing cross.
Jonathan Nsangou 6
A precocious talent who made his debut for Everton Under-21s at the age of 15 back in September, he turned 16 last month but operating in a role supporting the striker, he was quiet before making way 10 minutes into the second half.
Braiden Graham 9
Everton’s star man at this level who appeared on the first team’s substitutes bench a couple of times either side of New Year when David Moyes was low on numbers, he took the tie into extra time with a stunning right-foot curling strike deep into additional time and then teed up Robert for the winner having earlier started the move for the opener by picking out Lambert.
SUBS
Ray Robert (on 55 for Nsangou) 8
Almost a year on from when he became the first Everton scorer at Hill Dickinson Stadium when netting against Wigan Athletic Under-18s from the penalty spot in the first test event at the Blues’ future home, he was back on the scoresheet in front of that same South Stand, firing his side back in front in the first minute of the second half of extra time with a close-range effort after being teed up by Graham.
Kean Wren (on 62 for Loney) 7
Almost equalised for Everton just two minutes after coming on but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Ipswich’s Bobby Sains and then played the pass to Graham to provide the assist for his dramatic late equaliser.
Freddie Murdock (on 62 for Matos) 7
Brought some fresh legs as Everton turned this tie around.
Charlie Stewart (on 79 for Lambert) 7
Late outing as the Blues chased an equaliser, his energy helped in extra time.
Jake Doughty (on 118 Graham)
Cameo after Everton’s fourth went in.