Under-23s held by Everton

A late strike from Everton substitute Anthony Gordon robbed our Under-23s of all three points after a committed performance against the Premier League 2 high-fliers at Hotspur Way on Friday.

We had to weather a few spells of pressure early in the first period as David Unsworth’s men forced a succession of corners, but we looked a real threat every time we went forward and were good value for the two-goal lead given to us when Jack Roles and Kazaiah Sterling netted in quick succession.

But Everton wouldn’t go away. Bassala Sambou slid home right in front of goal shortly before half-time and although we had a number of shots blocked in the box and seemed to have the game under control as the game progressed, Anthony Gordon snuck through our defence to convert a low cross from fellow substitute Manasse Mampala four minutes from time, making it 2-2.

The manner of the goals conceded will have been a source of frustration for the lads as Under-23s Coach Wayne Burnett made just one change from the side that beat Wolfsburg in the Premier League International Cup on Monday night, Anthony Georgiou coming in for Paris Maghoma.

The Toffees arrived sitting second in the table but we took the game right to them, with the only thing stopping Sterling or Roles from firing us ahead in the 11th minute being each other as they both went for the same ball on a counter-attack.

It needed a goal-line block from George Marsh to prevent Tyias Browning from converting his header from one of a number of corners won by the visitors around the mid-way point of the first half but the livewire Sterling was keeping Everton centre-back Morgan Feeney on his toes up top and we soon began to sweep forward in his direction thanks to some smooth transition play from Tashan Oakley-Boothe and purposeful forays forward by all our attacking players.

Wide men Georgiou and Tariq Hinds both fired narrowly over before we grabbed a 34th-minute lead, Jaden Brown’s corner being nodded back towards goal by Japhet Tanganga on the edge of the area and Roles turning in off the underside of the bar from six yards out. Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Sterling was set free in the left channel and he finished clinically inside the near post.

The Toffees pulled one back three minutes before the interval as Antony Evans delivered a low centre from the left and Sambou slid in from a couple of yards out. Brandon Austin then had to make a good save down to his left to keep out Josh Bowler’s 20-yard effort.

Dylan Duncan and Sterling both saw shots blocked in the area as we made a positive start to the second half but Browning reminded us of his aerial threat when he went close with two headers from corners in short order.

Roles later saw another shot go spinning behind off a defender as we managed to work openings down the right side of Everton’s area and seemed to be heading for victory, but the visitors snatched a leveller with 86 minutes gone, Mampala sending in a low ball from the left which Gordon darted through our packed defence to meet and steer home.

Key moment

We fully deserved the two-goal lead given to us by quickfire goals from Roles and Sterling in the first half, but Everton’s first of the afternoon ensured they didn’t go in at the break too far behind us.

Evans wriggled free on the left side of our area and with everyone stranded at the front post, the arriving Sambou was able to slide into the net from a couple of yards out.

That was a key moment in helping the Toffees get back into the game, with Gordon’s late strike securing a point.

Coach’s view

After seeing our two-goal lead slip away, coach Wayne felt it was a case of two points dropped rather than a point gained.

“It was a tough game but overall, I think we just edged it,” he said. “We created a lot of chances, we competed very well and I think we were a little unfortunate not to take all three points. There were some really good performances from the players. We conceded just before half-time which was disappointing and then in the second half we had numerous chances again, got into the box a lot, but just couldn’t capitalise on the chances that we had. I think they had one shot on target in the second half and they’ve scored from that.

“Their second goal was a mistake from us. We were in control of the game but that happens so, as long as we can learn from it and as long as we can move forward from it, then that’s the most important thing.”

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Roles 34, Sterling 36; Everton – Sambou 42, Gordon 86.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Duncan 87; Everton – Charsley 43, Bowler 76, Iversen 79, Simms 83.

Referee: Jack Morgan.

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Wet, then sunny intervals, nine degrees.

Attendance: 135.