Stanley Mills' second-half finish secured all three points as Everton under-21s beat Brighton & Hove Albion at Haig Avenue on Sunday.
The midfielder earned the Blues their fourth Premier League 2 win of the season on the hour mark, sweeping home a finish from the same move he started via a driving run. The 18-year-old played the ball wide right to Tom Cannon, who drove into the Seagulls box before cutting the ball back to Mills 10 yards out.
Everton boss Paul Tait made two changes from the side that lost 2-0 against Chelsea a fortnight ago, with Kyle John and Mills coming in for Matthew Mallon and Sean McAllister.
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And the Blues started quickly, with Cannon getting sigh of the Brighton goal twice in the opening 10 minutes. Isaac Price saw a flicked effort deflected wide before Mills forced a smart save from Brighton goalkeeper James Beadle.
Everton nearly rued missed chances when Evan Ferguson headed a corner onto the crossbar, but the sides went into the break goalless.
Tait's men picked up where they left off after the break, and their patient control finally paid dividends when Mills picked up the ball deep in the Everton half and drove forward. The teenager pushed the ball wide to Cannon, whose intelligent cutback left Mills with the freedom of the 18-yard box to slot into the bottom corner.
The Toffees saw out the final half hour comfortably to send them fourth in the league, with four wins and one draw from their opening six games.
The under-21s will have a break for international football, with the next game on Friday, September 30 against Fulham.
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