Paul Tait’s Everton U23 side have drawn League Two outfit, Mansfield in the Papa John’s Trophy Round of 32 after winning their tricky group.
The toffees started their EFL Trophy campaign reminiscently of their season thus far, rather excitingly. Goals from Sean McAllister, Issac Price and Tom Cannon earned them a 3-3 draw with League 1 side, Morecombe, which they would, unfortunately, lose on penalties, 7-6.
Although unlucky not to come away with 3 points due to an 85th-minute equaliser in the match, this strong performance would be a sign of what was to come from Paul Tait’s side.
His side would again be pegged back by a late goal, securing a 1-1 draw against Harrogate Town thanks to a goal from Tom Cannon early in the game. However, the blues would this time be victorious on penalties, winning 4-2 and taking 2 points back to Merseyside.
Their final group stage fixture was considered by many as make-or-brake for Everton, sitting outside the qualification spots in 3rd after their two fixtures, with Morecombe and final opponents Hartlepool United sitting in 1st and 2nd.
The game was expected to be highly contested, with both teams needing to win to get out of the group, but this was far from the case.
The blues would end the game as remarkable 6-0 victors, thanks to goals from Cannon, Mills, Hunt and Whittaker.
Morecombe would go on to lose their final fixture 2-1 to Harrogate in the final minute, leaving the blues as undefeated group winners.
Being group winners, they were to be drawn against a team who finished second in another group. This team would end up being Mansfield Town of League 2, who finished behind Grimsby Town on goal difference and above Manchester City and Derby County in their group.
Although the toffees have beaten League 2 opposition twice already in this competition, Mansfield are performing considerably better than either team Tait’s side has beaten already, sitting in 7th position, firmly in the hunt for promotion into League 1 after losing to Port Vale in the playoff final last time out.
With the likes of Tom Cannon and Stanley Mills firing on all cylinders this season, the blues will firmly fancy their chances in the fixture and will look to improve on what can already be described as a successful campaign.
#EFCU21 will host @mansfieldtownfc in the last 32 of the #PapaJohnsTrophy.
— Everton Academy (@EvertonAcademy) November 11, 2022
The tie will be played on the week commencing Monday 21 November. pic.twitter.com/va9iGPTCAn