Bramley-Moore Takes on Goodison’s Bedlam Baton to Arrive in Style

It was strange. At Goodison, you could always sense it in the air if Everton were going to win. It was a feeling. A knowing thought that the ball would get sucked into the net.

And on Sunday, two miles west on the River Mersey at Hill Dickinson Stadium, that feeling was there again; there was a vibe. Bramley Moore had yet to experience its first big moment but with the magic that is Everton, everyone knew it was soon to come.

Nothing on the pitch suggested the Blues could score, let alone win. But as the bowels of the Gwladys Street would roar, the South Stand started to rumble. Fans in different sections could see things weren’t clicking on the field and so took on the responsibility to get things going. In different pockets another chant would ring out and Hill Dickinson began to stir.

As was so often the case at Goodison, a maddening refereeing performance was enough to light the blue touch paper. Then take the opposition player who foolishly chose to not step back the required yards for an Everton free-kick. Add in to the fact the Blues were frustrating in their play and Crystal Palace had an unbeaten run to protect and here we had the vital ingredients needed to create a proper Goodison ending at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The introduction of Charly Alcaraz, who showed great energy and desire, lifted the spirit of the fans early in the second half before another sub, Tim Iroegbunam, smartly stepped across a Palace man to win a penalty.

Iliman Ndiaye kept his cool to convert from the spot and there it began.

‘Anddddd it’s Ev-er-ton, Evvvvv-er-ton FC…’ cascaded down from the South Stand and onto the pitch. The stage was set for the Toffees to go and get the win.

There was an urgency and great impetus now. From the players to the supporters, everyone took charge of the role they knew they had to play.

Suddenly, the play flowed a little bit better and Everton found some openings. The Blues were getting into dangerous positions and the Palace goal was finally coming under siege from both wings after some tactical tweaks.

Grealish, meanwhile, was getting annoyed by the attention paid to him by Daniel Munoz and their individual battle went up a notch in intensity as time ticked down. The Palace defender was a nuisance as he grappled with the Everton playmaker who started giving some back. At one point, so irked was he by this constant irritant, Grealish laughed at the incessant nature of it all. He did well to smile and would be beaming come full-time having had the last laugh over Munoz.

With minute 92 on the clock, a ball came over from the right. For 133 years at Goodison Park, Evertonians followed these crosses on to the head of Dixie Dean, Bob Latchford and Graeme Sharp. Now, again, as the ball floated in here at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, time stood still and the knowing feeling took hold. Everton, somehow, were about to score.

Beto rose to connect with Ndiaye’s wedged cross but was denied as Palace blocked the effort. However, it fell into a sea of limbs in the six-yard box and 50,000 Blues waited again, in hope and in anticipation. Munoz desperately tried to clear but his punt immediately cannoned off Grealish’s outstretched foot and into the back of the net.

Cue the chaos and mayhem so enjoyed in the Gwladys Street now taking hold in the South Stand.

The call of Everton comes riding on the breeze but hurtled down the Blue Wall when the Toffees finally found the net.

Jack Grealish and Hill Dickinson Stadium have had their first big moment. It always stems from a feeling in the air with Everton. You just know.

Goodison Park has passed on the bedlam baton and Bramley Moore has arrived.

An Everton season ticket holder and football writer, you can subscribe to all of Ell Bretland's work at https://ellbretland.substack.com