Everton Reserves 2-1 Liverpool Reserves
By Rhys Lewis
October 10 2006
The Everton reserves beat the Liverpool reserves 2-1 at the Halton Stadium tonight in front of an impressive 5,556 crowd. Goals from Molyneux and Vaughan gave the blues the victory in a game which saw Jerzy Dudek sent off.

It was a fiery game right from the first whistle, with passion from both sides as if it was a first team derby and the games first goal came just minutes into the match. A stunning free-kick from 20 yards from the England under-17 International Lee Molyneux, which left Dudek scrambling across his goal but to no avail. But Liverpool responded well and got back into the game just before the half hour mark. A seemingly harsh decision from the referee after a collision between Irving and El Zahr, but the young signing from St Ettienne in the summer stepped up to cooly slot home to penalty past Richard Wright. Something, which Bolo Zenden failed to do just 4minutes later. Zenden was brought down by Lee Molyneux after a terrific run, leaving the referee no choice but to give a second penalty of the match. But Zenden placed the ball poorly wide of the goal.

The first half was an extremely entertaining affair, but it was only a warm up for what would to come in the second half. Normally in derby matches the tempo drops as the players tire but it was not the case in this derby match. The youngsters were a credit and it made for extremely enjoyable viewing. The passion involved in the match spilled over on the hour mark. Victor Anichebe chased down a through ball only to collide with Jerzy Dudek. Dudek took great offence to this and shoved Anichebe in the face leaving the referee no choice but to send the Polish International off.

This gave Everton the momentum and they wasted little time in regaining the advantage. Just 3minutes after the dismissal of Dudek the outstanding James Vaughan was the sharpest player on the pitch and re-acted quickly to a long ball downfield, and the Premierships youngest goalscorer cooly slotted home what turned out to be the winner. That was Vaughan's second goal in three reserve games since returning from 3 knee operations last year and was without a shadow of a doubt the Man of the Match tonight with a terrific performance, a delight to see after the torrid year he has had.

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