There was a big win on Merseyside as pre-season ended on a high note for our Under-18s, while a draw in Scotland for the development squad brought a positive conclusion to preparations for the new season.
Andy Myers’s side headed north of the border for a final friendly against Rangers in the Scottish capital on Friday. The game marked the opening of a new stand at the Glasgow club’s Hummel Training Centre and both sides played out a competitive draw.
Josh McPake opened the scoring for the hosts seven minutes into the second half but the lead lasted only a short while before Tariq Uwakwe’s equaliser. It was the second draw in a row for Myers’s men following a 2-2 stalemate against Sutton United the previous weekend.
The young Blues have also beaten the senior sides of Poole Town and Newport County this pre-season. They kick off 2019/20 in the EFL Trophy away at Swindon Town tomorrow (Tuesday).
For Ed Brand’s youth team, there were six different scorers on Saturday as they thumped Everton 6-1. New scholars Myles Peart-Harris, Tino Livramento, Joe Haigh and Dion Rankine were among the goals, with the latter pair having previously netted in a big 7-2 win away at Bournemouth.
Many of the group were involved in training with the men’s team at Cobham this week and now look forward to opening their campaign with a London derby away at Arsenal this Saturday 10 August.