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Post by Avinalaff on Apr 10, 2014 7:53:26 GMT
James Vaughan became the youngest goalscorer in Barclays Premier League history as he netted on his debut for fourth-placed Everton, who moved four points clear of Merseyside rivals Liverpool. Vaughan also set two records for the Toffees, who ended a run of three straight defeats to boost their pursuit of the top four spot that would ensure a place in the UEFA Champions League qualification stage. The teenager came on as a 74th minute substitute for Gary Naysmith, aged only 16 years, 270 days to make him Everton's youngest post-war player - beating Joe Royle's record by 13 days. And when he found the net in the 87th minute he became Everton's youngest scorer, beating Wayne Rooney, as well as ending James Milner's reign as the Barclays Premier League's youngest player to find the net. "We haven't scored four this season so it was terrific for us, but the most important thing was to get a win," said Everton assistant manager Alan Irvine. Everton made the ideal start when visiting goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly handled a long kick from his counterpart Nigel Martyn outside the penalty area and Mikel Arteta curled his free-kick over the wall and into the top corner. The match was decided by two Tim Cahill goals in nine minutes at the start of the second half. His first, in the 47th minute, was a right-foot volley after Marcus Bent hooked the ball back into the penalty area. Cahill's second came when he headed home a pinpoint left-wing cross from Kevin Kilbane at the far post for his 10th goal of the season and ninth in the Barclays Premier League. Palace substitute Sandor Torghelle hit a post before Vaughan made his entrance. He had already missed a chance before his historic strike near the end which was set up by Kilbane and Leon Osman. "I thought it was a very even match in the first half but the second half was bitterly disappointing," Palace manager Iain Dowie said. "I expect a response in training and there is no point in feeling sorry for ourselves." Despite a 7-0 defeat at Arsenal in their penultimate match, Everton hung on to fourth place at the end of the season - finishing three points ahead of Liverpool. Crystal Palace stayed in the relegation zone and slipped a place to 19th - two points adrift of safety. Palace, in their first Premier League season for seven years, won one and drew four of their remaining six fixtures but that was not enough to save them and they went down by a point with West Bromwich Albion securing safety on the final day.
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