PAUL HOPKINS scored his eighth goal of the season to salvage a point for Everton under-18s in a 1-1 draw against Stoke City at Netherton on Saturday. The England youth international striker's penalty 15 minutes from time allowed Neil Dewsnip's side to keep up their excellent start to the season. But after five victories in their first six matches Everton will be rueing several missed opportunities that would have gave them a fifth win in a row against the Potteries side. Everton dominated much of the match, but a stubborn Stoke kept them out. Dewsnip's side hit the woodwork twice early on. James Vaughan saw one header come off the bar while Hopkins hit the inside of the post with a shot. Both strikers also had shots saved by an in-form Stoke keeper during the match. But somewhat against the run of play the visitors took the lead after 20 minutes. A Stoke cross went into his own goal off the back of Everton captain Mark Hughes to make it 1-0. Everton also had striker Vaughan taken off with a foot injury. But with 15 minutes remaining his replacement, Victor Anichebe, was brought down in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Hopkins smashed home the resulting penalty in to earn a point. Coach Dewsnip said: "It was a really difficult game. Credit to Stoke City because they were very big and strong and very well organised. They were extremely difficult to break down. They were very resolute. "We again rotated our team, so it wasn't the same lads as every week, due to one or two injuries, international call-ups and also because the reserves play on Tuesday. "We had pretty much all of the game, the possession, pretty much all the chances, although we didn't create an abundance of chances for all our territorial possession." He added: "I was very happy with the work ethic and the way the lads played, but on the day we just lacked a little bit of creativity and invention in the final third." EVERTON UNDER-18s: Gallagher, Wynne, Fox, Hughes, Boyle, Phelan, Wright (Morrison 60), Harris, Wilson, Hopkins, Vaughan (Anichebe 45). Unused subs Lake, Holt. | 
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