Match Reports

Albion finish PL2 campaign with draw at Everton

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Ulrick Ella's excellent strike cancelled out a first half Toffees penalty.

By Charlie Hanson • 24 April 2021

By Emma Simpson
Ulrick Ella wheels away after firing Albion level.

Albion finished off their Premier League 2 campaign with a 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday.

The home side took the lead from the penalty spot just before half-time, before Ulrick Ella’s superb strike just after the restart ensured both sides took a point home with them.

Andrew Crofts and Shannon Ruth were aiming for their team to finish the season with a third consecutive victory, making one change from the 3-1 win over Derby County as Ella came in for Evan Ferguson.

Excellent runs down the flanks from Ayo Tanimowo and James Furlong proved to be Albion’s best outlets in the first half, but a number of decent balls into the box from the pair couldn’t find a teammate to convert.

The hosts went close through Josh Bowler midway through the first half as the Everton midfielder fired an effort just over from 20 yards, before the 22-year-old played a pivotal role in his side taking the lead in the 44th minute.

The former QPR man drew a foul from Ed Turns inside the box and the referee was left with little choice but to point to the spot.

Skipper Nathan Broadhead made no mistake as he found the top left corner from 12-yards, with Carl Rushworth unable to get a touch on it despite diving the right way.

Albion responded quickly though and had their equaliser seven minutes after the restart.

Ella found a yard of space in the box and rifled into the top left corner with a fine strike across goal.

By Paul Hazlewood
Andrew Crofts and Shannon Ruth's team finished the campaign with a three-game unbeaten run.

Danny Cashman went close to adding a fourth goal in three games when he controlled Mark Leonard’s low drive from the edge of the 18-yard area. He chopped past a defender before trying to slot past Harry Tyrer, but his effort was straight and at the Everton stopper and Teddy Jenks couldn’t convert the tricky follow up from an acute angle.

Turns' header from Jenks' corner was on target buy an easy one for Tyrer to gather, before Broadhead's free-kick from 25-yards out was well over Rushworth’s goal.

Leonard had the chance to win it with two minutes to go as he was found by Jenks in the middle, but he fired his first-time effort straight at Tyrer.

The result sees Albion finish their season in ninth spot, but that could change with every team in the division still with at least one game to play.

Line-up: Rushworth, Tanimowo (Packham 45), Wakely, Dendoncker, Turns, Furlong, Spong, Leonard, Cashman, Ella, Jenks.

Unused subs: Rees, Emmerson, Moran, Tolaj.