For the second year in a row, Blues were paired with Premier League side Everton’s under 21s in the semi-finals and as they were last year, they were beaten by the Toffees youngsters at Walton Hall Park.
However, it was a performance Neil Reynolds’ men could certainly be proud of as well as a closer scoreline, with the Gorsey Len men edged out 3-2 having lost this fixture 4-1 last time around.
With the game just 48 hours removed from Saturday’s 3-2 win over Stocksbridge Park Steels – a result that secured their spot in the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs – Reynolds made six changes to his starting line-up with first-team regulars such as George Waring, Clive Smith, Matt Regan and Harrison Wood among those left out while Ben Hardcastle was left on the bench.
Everton established early command thanks to two goals in four minutes inside the first quarter, with Shea Pita and Luca Davis netting before Ben Hough brought Rylands back into the game before half time with a stunning long-range strike.
Demi Akarakiri re-established the hosts’ two-goal lead shortly after half time, but the visitors again kept themselves alive when Jake Burton finished neatly from Guy Hall’s cross.
Unfortunately, Blues could not find a further response as Everton take their place in the final, leaving Rylands to focus on their promotion campaign in the league.
They are now not in action until the final day of the regular season when they host Stockton Town on Saturday, April 25, before their play-off semi-final the following Tuesday.