Boro take Premier League’s youth team to extra-time but cannot force penalties

Stevenage’s youngsters fell just short in their attempts to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Darren Sarll’s men took on Everton on Tuesday evening, but after edging a goalless 90 minutes they were knocked out of the competition in extra-time when the visitors went two goals up before Jamie Sylvester struck a late consolation.

Boro had gone into the match on the back of a 6-0 thrashing of Wealdstone in the previous round, and they were bright from the off in this match as both Jack Storer and Ben Kennedy went close with early chances.

Tyler Reading, a Youth Cup winner with Norwich City in 2013, was keeping goal for Stevenage, and he was forced into an early save from Nathan Broadhead.

The second half also failed to produce any goals, but it was the Toffees who struck first in extra-time.

Calum Dyson looped a header over Reading before Broadhead then doubled his side’s lead in front of the watching 417 supporters.

Substitute Sylvester then pulled a goal back for Boro, but they were unable to take the game to penalties as Everton held on for the win.

Boro: Reading, Jones, Smyth, Johnson, Jackson (Butaka 46), Kerr, Storer, Bruce (Sylvester 90), Casey, Millard (Yamfam 80), Kennedy. Subs: Patel, Carney.

Everton: Hewelt, Yates, Connolly, Walsh (Holland 60), Thorniley, Bainbridge, Donohue (Evans 111), Duffus (Robinson 70), Dyson, Broadhead, Charsley. Subs: O’Loughlin, Myers.