Everton Under 21s put eight past Ipswich in goalscoring masterclass

Braiden Graham back to goalscoring with a bang Goodison Park, over the years, has produced some truly memorable night games under the floodlights with heaving crowds and an electric atmosphere. Usually we are talking about full house of near 40,000 spectators roaring the first team on yet this was a far cry from a heaving crowd. On a cold and breezy Friday night, just a few hundred witnessed a truly remarkable performance as Paul Tait’s Everton Under 21s played their last league game of the season to wrap up a campaign that had promised much but had, frankly, faltered in the last few months.

The Blues lined up as per the team-sheet below, a strong line-up that featured a midfield trio and, to some surprise, Braiden Graham up front with centre forward Omari Benjamin moved to the left flank. They were taking on a very good Ipswich Town team that, with a victory on Friday could have moved to 3rd in the table whereas Everton were a lowly 22nd: View Link In a fascinating but very open game, the Blues took the lead after 6 minutes as a pinpoint Luca Davis cross was expertly met with a cushioned volley at the near post by Braiden Graham , 1-0. Braiden Graham is back in the goals for #EFCU21 , and what a cross from Luca Davis!

🔵 pic. twitter. com/M9yMBXV8tO — Everton Academy (@EvertonAcademy) April 17, 2026 Pickford had already pulled off a smart save but 5 minutes later, after a slack pass by Aled Thomas gifted possession, the Tractor Boys took full advantage with an easy finish from Fletcher, 1-1.

The recently returned Blues’ midfielder Harvey Foster was beginning to shine in midfield and from one of his through-balls to Graham, an Ipswich defender almost scored a spectacular own goal, hitting the post and seeing Benjamin’s follow up cleared. Foster did get his first assist though after 36 minutes as his perfect left wing corner was met with a fine back-header from Omari Benjamin , 2-1. The goals were coming thick and fast as Ipswich equalised after 38 minutes through Compton with a top-corner finish that Pickford could do nothing about, 2-2.