A Nathan Broadhead hat-trick helped Everton Under-18s secure a 3-1 victory over Derby County at Finch Farm on Saturday afternoon.
The young Blues took the lead through the Welsh forward on 17 minutes before he doubled the advantage just before the hour-mark.
Luke Thomas pulled one back for Derby with just ten minutes remaining before Broadhead grabbed his third to confirm the three points for the Toffees.
Heading into the game, John Ebbrell’s side knew they had the difficult task of winning with a nine-goal margin if they were to clinch the North Division title ahead of Manchester City.
And the young Blues began the game showing intent as they looked to grab an early goal at a very wet and windy Finch Farm.
Both Nathan Holland and Broadhead had chances within the first 15 minutes but the visitors also had openings of their own as Kyrone Stabana and Alex Babos both went close.
It was, however, the Toffees that opened the scored just moments later as Shayne Lavery got in behind the Derby defence before firing low at keeper Matt Yates.
Yates could only palm the striker’s effort into the path of Broadhead and the forward made no mistake with his finish to grab his 12th of the campaign.
The Blues then had Josef Yarney to thank as the defender produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Babos an equaliser minutes later.
Lavery, who caused problems all afternoon for the visitors, latched onto a ball sent over the top from left-back Jamie Mellen but he couldn’t get his shot away and the Toffees headed in to the interval with a slender 1-0 lead.
Everton emerged from the break immediately putting Derby under pressure and 10 minutes into the second half they doubled their lead.
Right-back James Yates did brilliantly to reach the by-line before whipping in a pin-point cross for Broadhead who timed his run into the box with perfection and powered his header home to grab his second of the game.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men as Jared Bird was given a straight red and the Blues looked to take full advantage with 25 minutes remaining.
Broadhead then had two opportunities in quick succession but it was the visitors who were next to find the net as substitute Thomas fired a low strike past Ciaran O’Loughlin on 80 minutes.
Despite the goal, the Blues continued to surge forward at every opportunity with Holland, Lavery and midfielder Ryan Harrington all having efforts at goal.
And with just minutes left, Broadhead completed his hat-trick to confirm all three points for the Toffees.
Mellen set up a counter-attack, finding Holland on the right wing and he calmly picked out Broadhead who slotted home to secure his second treble of the season and take Everton into the final league play-offs next week on the back of an impressive three straight victories.
The win sees the Under-18s just miss out on the North Division title on goal difference to City but Academy coach Ebbrell praised his side and says his players will head into the play-offs full of confidence.
“We want to win all of our games and today was a difficult one,” Ebbrell told evertonfc.com. “Derby came and played well but I’m pleased that the players understood what we were looking for them to do. The second half was better than the first and it’s pleasing to come out with the victory.
“The main thing was getting the victory. I said to the players yesterday that we want to keep this momentum going into the play-offs.
“It was really important going into next Saturday that we kept the winning aspect but also the playing well side too.”
Everton Under-18sCiaran O’Loughlin
James Yates
Jamie Mellen
Ryan Harrington
Callum Lees
Josef Yarney
Daniel Bramall
Beni Baningime
Shayne Lavery
Nathan Broadhead
Nathan Holland
SubstitutesBen Pierce
Jack Kiersey
Spencer Myers
George Withe
Fraser Hornby
Derby County Under-18sMatt Yates
Kyron Stabana
Jordan Mills
Jared Bird
Russell Carter-Thompson
Alex Cover
Jahvan Davidson-Miller
Kellan Gordon
Emil Riis Jakobsen
Alex Babos
James Carvell
SubstitutesHarry Goode
Alex Fryatt
Adam Davie
Luke Thomas
Max Bird
