Everton: Turner, Wynne, Kroldrup, Hughes, Valente, Harris, Seargant, Li Tie, Wilson, Anichebe, Hopkins.

Bench: Jones, Vidarrson (Kroldrup), Downes, Phelan (Li Tie), Wright (Valente)

Scorers: Hopkins, Anichebe

A fairly experienced reserves side saw off Wigan last night, but it took two of the younger members of the team to do the damage. Goals from Paul Hopkins and Victor Anichebe sealed the points for the Blues in the second half.

Andy Holden had PK, Li Tie, Nuno Valente. and Iain Turner at his disposal last night. Nuno came through 67 minutes minutes, and will surely with the likes of Tiny and Mikky out this weekend, start at left back. PK was withdrawn just after the hour mark, as a precaution for this weekend clash as well. Unfortunately Li Tie still looked a bit ring rusty, and this showed with some mis timed passes early in the encounter.

It was Paul Hopkins who opened the scoring, with a terrific drive on the hour mark that gave the Pie Eaters keeper no chance. Everton dominated the match especially the second period, and that was rewarded when Victor Anichebe settled the encounter with an injury time second for the Blues. (07/12/05)

Andy Holden on Win says: says: "There wasn’t a lot in the game in the first half. I think the Wigan boys went about it well and played some nice football in the first half, without really hurting Iain Turner. I wasn’t happy with one or two things that were going on in the first half, but the lads rectified that in the second half, and there were two good goals.

Having the experienced players in the side does no harm. It has served its purpose because they needed a run out and they got one tonight, they have all come off with a clean bill of health so that’s good. The first goal was a smashing goal, a great ball from Jay Harris over the top of the centre half and Hopkins has hit a great volley. It was a great goal.

Victor is always capable of scoring like that. We were working on that in training, turning and hitting the target and he’s got it off to a tee. The young lads came on and we kept control of the game, they kept to the tempo we had set and in the end it was a good result." (07/12/05)

Reserves Match Reports