A young Everton Reserve side held Blackburn Rovers to a 1-1 draw at Southport FC on Thursday night.

Rovers were the stronger side on paper, but Everton's youngsters battled bravely throughout the game and enjoyed the better chances.

However, Blackburn went ahead as early as the second minute when Jerome Watt threaded a ball through to Matt Jansen who cooly finished past Iain Turner.

Everton, inspired by Leon Osman, immediately tried to make amends and had a great opportunity when Brian Moogan fired narrowly over the bar.

Italian international Dino Baggio almost doubled the visitors' advantage in the 16th minute when his deflected shot forced Turner into a good save.

American 'keeper David Yelldell was equal to Anthony Barry's curling left-footed shot from the edge of the box, but then the real drama began.

In the 33rd minute, Brian Moogan was adjudged to have held down Paul Gallagher in the area and referee David Storrie pointed to the spot.

From the resulting penalty, Ciccio Grabbi blasted the ball hard and low, but Turner somehow spectacularly saved the penalty with his legs.

Three minutes later, Everton were level - also from the penalty spot!

Osman was bundled down in the box by Nils-Eric Johansson and the 22-year-old despatched the penalty past Yelldell with ease.

As the interval approached it was the Blues who finished stronger and Alan Moogan was unlucky to see his 25-yard free kick from the right cannon off the crossbar seconds before half-time.

Everton started the second half well and could have opened the scoring on 47 when Scott Brown's low drive across the face of goal narrowly evaded Osman and Alan Moogan in the box.

Osman's pace then took him past the Blackburn defence, but he fired his shot wide from the tightest of angles with just the 'keeper to beat.

Turner then pulled off a fantastic save from Gallagher as the game ebbed and flowed from box to box.

The Blues were cursing their luck twice in the space of two minutes when Osman went close in the 61st and 62nd minute.

The young forward hit the post from Patrizio Pascucci's through ball, only for Barry to blaze the rebound over.

Barry turned provider 60 seconds later when his cross from the left was flicked towards goal by Osman, but Yelldell acrobatically tipped the ball over the bar.

Everton missed a golden opportunity to take the lead on 64 when Barry blasted the ball over the bar from close range.

But despite enjoying the better chances 1-1 was how it finished.

It was Everton's third draw in as many matches, but the young Blues can be justifiably proud of their performance.