Chris Beesley reports from the Eco-Power Stadium after Everton kicked off their EFL Trophy campaign against Doncaster Rovers
The EFL Trophy is supposed to provide Premier League youngsters with a taste of first team football but Everton’s 2-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers through up the question over their best pathway to success as on-loan Sheffield United prospect Louie Marsh netted the decisive opening goal of the game.
Like Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, another Steel City lad who learned the rough and tumble of the game with loan spells from Sheffield United to Stalybridge Celtic and Northampton Town before hitting the big time, striker Marsh has been thrown in at the deep end with a side fighting just to remain in the Football League – but is that still a better route than Under-21 football?
Joking aside, this very youthful Everton second string – depleted by losing a clutch of their more-established players to loans – nevertheless set about making an early impression against a Doncaster outfit who had made six changes from the side that secured a last-gasp 2-1 win at Forest Green on Saturday for their first league victory of the season.
Everton keeper Billy Crellin came to the rescue in first half stoppage time to make a smart stop from Marsh with his feet but there was nothing he could do to prevent the same player opening the scoring on 57 minutes when he reacted quickest to some penalty box pinball as the visitors failed to clear their lines and slotted calmly into the net. Blues boss Paul Tait responded with a raft of changes – five in all – but in truth the visitors still lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
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