Northern Ireland XI 0 Everton XI 2. Coleraine Sports Ground.
Everton: Turner, Irving, Rodwell, Lescott, Valente, Van der Meyde, Carsley, Anderson de Silva, Molyneux (Harpur 85), Johnson (Agard 66), Vaughan (Connor 72).Unused Substitutes: Stubhaug, Akpan, Stewart.
Goals: Vaughan 26, Agard 78.
Referee: Mr. M Courtney
Everton kicked off their pre-season campaign and enjoyed a a relatively comfortable run out against a Northern Ireland select 11 Andy Johnson back looked really sharp. He and his strike partner James Vaughan continued where he left off from last season up front. He hit the post after 10 minutes with a snap shot from the edge of the box. Another effort from AJ produced a magnificent point blank save from Taylor that led to a corner. From the resulting corner Taylor dropped the ball under a challenge from Vaughan, Johnson poked the ball goal wards but was blocked on the line, but James Vaughan on his 19th birthday was there to lash the ball home to give the Toffees a deservingly goal lead. Vaughan should have made it a brace when he headed wide from a superb cross from Nuno Valnte. The Toffeemen brought two youngsters Agard and Conner in the place of Johnson and Vaughan and it was the newcomers who put the game to bed, It was the neat Anderson de Silva who put Conner clear on the right. He hit a lovely ball for Keiran Agard to finish off from close range. The Toffeemen had one scare in the second half when the 16 year old Jack Rodwell cleared off the line after Turner was well beaten. Everton's youngsters gave the fans a look at the future of the club. With the likes of Irving, Rodwell, Molyneux, Connor and Agard, the future looks good.
This earlier kick off at Bury's Gigg Lane had more of youthful look to the line up. Hibbert, Neville, Stubbs and Anichebe where the senior players in the starting line up and all eleven players that started the game ended it. One really bright prospect by the name of John-Paul Kissock wasthe pick of the players in the game that did not really get going although the blues started off brightly with Victor Anichebe forcing the keeper to touch his powerful effort wide after just 70 seconds. The only goal of the game came from debutant Lucas Jutkiewicz heading what looked like a tame header over a the stranded keeper. Jutkiewicz who signed for the Blues from Swindon Town in march had an indifferent game and was guilty of missing a couple of his chances. Atrteta, beattie and Jagielka where not risked for either game after picking up slight knocks in training. As for Kissock who operated down the left side of midfield and signed proffessional forms recently, this lad has been spoken of very highly on Merseyside over the past couple of years and turned in several fine performance's for the reserve team last season. He possibly could become a familiar player this season or possibly the season after but one things for certain, everyone will know about JP before long.