Forest Green Development squad show spirit in defeat against Everton

Forest Green Rovers Development 1

By Ben Pring

A Forest Green Rovers Development side, led by academy boss Scott Bartlett, travelled to Everton’s Finch Farm training complex on Tuesday, for a friendly with the Premier League side’s U18s.

Bartlett’s youngsters have sparked a strong relationship with the top-flight side since a pre-season meeting at Bath University a year ago, and Rovers snapped up the opportunity to test themselves again.

As the game kicked-off on the hottest day of the year, the ever-improving FGR development squad made a promising start to the match, having the better of the ball in the early stages.

Some neat play from FGR saw Giancarlo Gabbiadini fire over from 25 yards.

This was shortly followed by another effort on goal from the visitors.

This time first year professional Blake Davies fired a powerful shot on goal straight at the opposition goalkeeper.

Despite FGR’s strong start, they found themselves a goal behind with some misfortune.

A pinpoint pass down the line saw the Toffees' right-sided midfielder with plenty of space to square the ball, which saw Jon Moran turn the ball into his own net.

Not long after the first, the second followed. There was no luck about this goal as the Blues right back whipped in an inviting cross, which was headed into the top corner from all of six yards out.

Late into the first half, a rash tackle on Davies saw FGR receive a free-kick from around 20 yards out. Joe Stokes lined the free-kick up however saw his effort go a fair way clear of the bar.

Jordan Morris, Ethan Royer, Jack Freeman and Tom Anderson

Not long after the interval, FGR conceded their third. A precise pass was played through to the promising Shayne Lavery, who calmly slotted past Ben Reed who had no chance.

Lavery scored his second of the game and Everton’s fourth when yet another defence splitting ball was played through the two central defenders, and the 17-year-old used his pace to race away from the defence and find the back of the net with another cool finish.

Despite being four down nearing the end of the match, the spirited youngsters didn’t give up and were rewarded for their efforts when the Blues goalkeeper gifted the ball straight to Sam Snaith’s feet, who adeptly took the ball past the goalkeeper and the 16-year-old ex-Cardiff City striker passed into an empty net.

Despite slipping to a 4-1 defeat, the difference in quality rarely showed despite the Blues fielding several players who have starred at international standard, leaving Forest Green’s academy youngsters and small sprinkling of first year professionals with another ideal pre-season test before the new season.