Everton: Wright, Wynne, Fox, Gerrard, Bosnar, Harris, Seargeant, Phelan, Chadwick, Hopkins, Wilson

Subs: Anichebe, Lake, Hughes, Boyle, Vidarsson

Scorer: Bosnar (65)

Eddy Bosnar scored a 65th minute winner against the shite in the mini derby last night at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. The Aussy, Croatian, Irish, Scouse, whatever, scored a peach of a free kick to send the Everton contingent in raptures. Any win over the shite is to be celebrated, and this was no different.

In a nip and tuck game, the shite had their chances, but Wrighty in the Everton sticks held firm pulling off impressive saves from Mellor on a couple of occasions, and Peltier the shites full back. Everton could have gone into an earlier lead when another Bosnar free kick went inches over, but Everton held out to claim all the points to the delight of manager Andy Holden. (13/10/04)

Andy Holden says: "The past few weeks have been the lowest I’ve ever been in my life with regards to being a reserve team manager. The reserves are playing a game every week but it’s two games as far as some of the young lads are concerned because they have to play on a Saturday as well. Neil Dewsnip tries to rotate them as best he can when they play for the Under-18s. We want to try and win every game that we go into. We’re doing well at the moment and I’m delighted to get our first win, it’s a great result.

These young lads who are playing are getting over worked but they’re not half putting a shift in. This will be a really long season, it will be like three seasons in one because of the learning curve they will have. It’s tough for them at this age. In the past we’ve had maybe three or four of these young boys with the likes of Scot Gemmill, David Unsworth, David Weir, Joe-Max Moore. They’ve all been great with the youngsters but in the past it’s only been three or four younger players, now it’s seven or eight and even nine at times and it’s too much for them. If you’ve got a goalkeeper whose got experience, a centre half, a midfielder and a striker you can work round that. Ninety minutes is a long time for these boys especially on such a big pitch but their fitness levels were excellent and results like that can only help confidence." (13/10/04)

Andy Holden takes his young rezzie side over to North Wales tonight to face the shite's second string, in the first mini derby of the season. Holden will hand Dickie Wright a start, as the ex England keeper, fights to claim back his first team jersey from Nige. Eddy Bosnar should start in defence, with Chaddy up front, but apart from these three, Holden's side will be made up mainly of youngsters, due to the size of Everton's squad this season. (12/10/04)

Everton from: Wright, Wynne, Fox, Gerrard, Bosnar, Harris, Fowler, Phelan, Chadwick, Hopkins, Wilson, Anchibe, Lake, Hughes, Seargeant, Boyle, Vidarsson.