U23s Report: Leicester City 1 Everton 4

- Kieran Dowell, Courtney Duffus, Antony Evans and Callum Dyson all scored for the Toffees 

- Danny Rowe was on target for Steve Beaglehole’s outfit 

A ruthless performance from Everton saw Leicester City’s Development Squad beaten 4-1 at Belvoir Drive in Premier League 2 on Thursday afternoon. 

The visiting side went ahead with just 16 minutes on the clock thanks to Kieran Dowell, who swept home Antonee Robinson’s cut back to break the deadlock. 

The Foxes responded well in the second period and came close to equalising through Admiral Muskwe, but Everton doubled their lead shortly after through Courtney Duffus. 

The encounter then opened up, and while City looked for a route back into the game, Everton extended their advantage late on through Antony Evans and Callum Dyson to wrap up the points. 

Matty James and Tom Lawrence both started the game, while Yohan Benalouane came on in the second half as all three players notched up some valuable minutes on the pitch. 

The lively Dowell first threatened with seven minutes on the clock, as the forward dragged an effort wide from the edge of the box, before defender Darnell Johnson was on hand to deny the Everton man with a good challenge just moments later. 

But Dowell was on target shortly after to finish off a fine Toffees move, converting from inside the box to beat goalkeeper Max Bramley. 

Striker Kairo Mitchell flashed Lawrence’s corner wide shortly after, before James’ fierce half-volley flew just over the bar on the stroke of half-time. 

Appling some pressure early on in the second period, City first came close to a levelling goal through midfielder Harvey Barnes’ close-range header, before Muskwe saw his effort deflected wide. 

A swift break from Everton led to their second goal on the hour mark, as Duffus nodded in the first of three opposition headers at the back post. 

Substitute Layton Ndukwu’s powerful free kick forced Mateusz Hewelt into a good stop on 71 minutes, before the England youth international fired over from range five minutes later. 

Everton’s third goal arrived shortly after the introduction of Evans, whose header with 12 minutes to play made it 3-0. 

Mitchell sent an overhead kick just over the bar on 82 minutes, before Jones rose highest at the far post on 88 minutes to head in for 4-0. 

Substitute Rowe was quickest to a flick on to pull one back in injury time for the Foxes, but Everton’s efficiency upfront saw them record their third win from three Premier League 2 games. 

CITY: Bramley, Pascanu (Ndukwu 64), Trialist, Miles, Moore (c), Johnson, Lawrence (Rowe 60), James (Benalouane 60), Mitchell, Barnes, Muskwe 

SUBS NOT USED: Kipre, Iversen 

GOAL: Rowe 90 

EVERTON: Hewelt, Jones (c), Robinson, Davies (Walsh 60), Kenny, Connolly, Dowell, Baningime, Duffus (Evans 72), Dyson, Charsley (Henen 78) 

SUBS NOT USED: Renshaw, Foulds 

GOALS: Dowell 16, Duffus 57, Evans 78, Dyson 88 

REFEREE: David Rock