Everton Res 1 Blues Res 2

Last updated : 02 November 2004 By Brian Cartlidge
Keith Bertschin's second string started brightly at Haig Avenue and were unfortunate not to take the lead with just five minutes played. Striker Andrew Barrowman fired narrowly wide when one-on-one with Everton keeper Iain Turner.

Barrowman made up for his early error however when he opened the scoring for Blues on sixteen minutes. The young Scot scored from the penalty spot after he himself had been adjudged by referee Mr Sim to have been having his shirt tugged in the box by an Everton defender.

Blues twice came close to doubling their lead when firstly Dean Curtis' fierce drive was well saved by Turner and again ten minutes after the half-time break when Carl Motteram's left foot effort came back off a post.

Blues deservedly did double their avantage however on 61 minutes when Barrowman latched on to a long through-ball from Marcos Painter before lobbing over the advancing Turner from just inside the box to score his and Blues' second of the night.

Barrowman was now on fire and he came close to claiming the match-ball with a superb shot on the turn after 68 minutes. Turner in the Everton goal was equal to the Blues marksman however and he somehow managed to push the young Scots goalbound effort around the post.

Keith Bertchin made a double substitution on 70 minutes by replacing Sam Oji with Asa Hall and introducing Peter Till as a replacement for Motteram.

Five minutes later the home side were awarded a penalty and Nick Chadwick duly sent Benno the wrong way from the spot to bring the score to 2-1.

Everton pressed hard for an equaliser but Blues second string held-out for their third away win of the season and three points which sent them back into second place in the Barclays Premiership Reserves League (north) table.

Everton: Turner, Wynne, Fox, Hughes, Bosnar, Phelan (Anichebe, 61), Seargeant, Harris (Boyle, 83), Chadwick, Vaughan, Wilson. Subs not used: Fowler, Gallagher, Wright.

Blues: Bennett, Parratt, Painter, Martin Taylor, Oji (Hall, 70), Alsop, Birley, Kilkenny, Barrowman, Curtis, Motteram (Till, 70). Subs: Bagnall, Blake, Howland.