U21 Report: Everton 5-0 Saints
Southampton’s Under-21s were well-beaten by Everton in Premier League 2 on Monday evening.
Lewis Dobbin opened the scoring and Francis Okoronkwo doubled the lead from the penalty spot.
Okoronkwo completed his hat-trick in the second half either side of a composed finish from Sean McAllister.
The hosts were bolstered with first team star André Gomes in the middle of the park, whilst Saints made two changes from their last outing with a threadbare squad only naming four substitutes
Princewill Ehibhatiomhan in action against Everton. (Photos: Emma Simpson)
There was little to report for the opening 10 minutes at Finch Farm, but it was the hosts who eventually injected some life into the game.
After both sides had attempted to get a grip of the contest, Dobbin took matters into his own hands in the 15th minute when he cut inside from the left wing and drilled a powerful, low shot into the bottom corner.
Josh Jeffires was alert to prevent an instant second moments later as he parried away McAllister’s near post shot, before Will Armitage headed wide at the other end of the pitch for Saints.
Just as Adam Asghar’s side were beginning to regroup after the opener, Everton doubled their lead from the penalty spot; Okoronkwo calmly sent Jeffries the wrong way to score his first of the evening.
Gomes almost teed up Okoronkwo for a third Everton goal before the break, but his cross was just ahead of the onrushing attacker.
Saints did have the ball in the back of the net before half time through Princewill Ehibhatiomhan but he was denied by the offside flag despite a composed, one-on-one finish.
Tyler Dibling in possession.
The Toffees continued to where they left off at the start of the second half and a quickfire double put the game out of sight just before the hour mark.
Roman Dixon’s low cross from the right found Okoronkwo who stabbed the ball home, before McAllister won back possession and confidently rounded Jeffries to finish just two minutes later.
Substitute Halid Djankpata then forced Jeffries into a low, diving save just a minute after he was introduced off the bench.
A lofted ball over the defence from Cam Bragg found the run of Josh Lett, but his stretching finish went wide of the mark as Saints searched for a consolation goal.
It was Okoronkwo who added the game’s fifth and final goal, however, as he stepped up to take his second penalty of the night and complete a hat-trick with an unfazed finish.
Jay Robinson blazed a late chance over from just inside the area as Saints return to the South empty handed, with Everton leapfrogging them in the table.
Everton: Virginia, Dixon, Hunt, Astley (Jones 80), Campbell (captain), Metcalfe, John (Beaumont-Clark 76), Gomes (Djankpata 62), Okoronkwo, McAllister, Dobbin (Heath 80).
Subs not used: Barrett.
Goals: Dobbin 15, Okoronkwo 24(p), 56, 70(p), McAllister 58.
Yellow Cards: Metcalfe 52,Okoronkwo 62, McAllister 89.
Saints: Jeffries, Davis, Armitage, Awe, Lett, Bragg (captain), Abu (Merry 61), Williams, Ehibhatiomhan (Oyekunle 74), Dibling, Robinson.
Subs not used: Mohamed, Hewlett.
Yellow Cards: Bragg 88.
