WHAT HAPPENED
An eventful match at Southport FC saw six goals, a red card and the points shared as we twice came from a goal down to draw with Everton.
The hosts started brightly and almost took the lead inside five minutes when the ball fell to Kyle John on the edge of the box, but his powerful effort flew wide.
Inside 17 minutes, Joseph Olowu broke the deadlock when he met Matt Smith’s corner at the near post, and his header was too powerful for former Gunner Joao Virginia to keep out.
The hosts then equalised shortly after when Ellis Simms collected the ball from Antony Evans and poked the ball past Matt Macey.
Moments later, Everton took the lead after a slick counter attack saw Simms race down the pitch before slotting into the bottom corner from close range.
On the stroke of half time, Zech Medley played a diagonal ball into James Olayinka’s path, our forward then controlled well inside the box and finished coolly past Virginia.
Early in the second half, Olayinka had a chance to put us back in front, but his shot from the edge of the box flew over the bar.
The Toffees retook the lead with 15 minutes remaining when Lewis Gibson met Evans’s free-kick at the back post and headed home from close range.
We responded five minutes later when Zak Swanson and Olayinka linked up nicely down the wing to set up Smith, who fired home to level the scores.
In the closing stages, Tolaji Bola received a red card for a tackle on Beni Baningime before the full-time whistle blew.
WHAT IT MEANS
WHAT’S NEXT
Steve Bould’s side next face Leicester City at Meadow Park in the Premier League International Cup on Friday, January 17 at 7pm (UK time).
By Sam Cox
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