Bangor born Nathan Broadhead scored all three goals as Everton Under-23s beat Manchester United 3-1 on Monday evening.
The Blues hit the front on 26 minutes through Broadhead’s dinked finish before Charlie McCann levelled on the stroke of half-time with a rasping 25-yard strike.
David Unsworth’s side then raced through the gears at the start of the second 45, with Broadhead securing his second and third of the evening by the 65th minute.
Everton’s young guns went into the game looking to leapfrog United in the league standings and return to winning ways after suffering a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City last time out.
Broadhead was in inspired form all evening and should have opened the scoring on 21 minutes but, after linking up well with Einar Iversen, United goalkeeper Matej Kovar saved the Welshman’s driven attempt with his feet.
Five minutes later, though, the former Burton Albion loanee wasn’t to be denied when he latched onto Rhys Hughes’ perfectly-weighted through ball before executing the coolest of dinks over Kovar.
United responded with a spell of pressure, but it took until stoppage time at the end of the opening period for them to breach João Virgínia’s goal – and when they did it was a spectacular effort from McCann.
The visitors may well have thought that goal had caused a momentum shift after Everton had enjoyed the bulk of the first-half chances but Unsworth’s side showed a clinical edge in the second 45 to take the game away from United.
Broadhead bagged his second on 57 minutes after Iversen burst into the box – the Norwegian’s attempt at goal rebounded kindly and allowed him the chance to square it for Broadhead to slot home.
Eight minutes later and Everton added a two-goal cushion to their lead. This time Joe Anderson met Hughes’ corner from the right at the near post, glanced it towards goal and Broadhead was well placed on the line to knock in and secure the win.
The result sees the Toffees – now third in the Premier League 2 table – claim their third win in four games ahead of a trip to fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Friday 5 March, KO 12pm.
Match Report: Everton FC
