Northern Ireland XI 0, Everton 2

Jul 16 2007 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

BIRTHDAY boy James Vaughan believes that he can forge an effective partnership with any of Everton’s strikers as he put down an early marker for his own place in the side with the club’s first goal of the pre-season.

Vaughan struck in the 27th minute against a Northern Ireland XI at Coleraine’s Showgrounds before fellow youngster Kieran Agard sealed the win 11 minutes from the end.

The Birmingham-born frontman was paired in attack with record £8.6million signing Andrew Johnson on the day he turned 19 and carried out where he left off from last season, having netted on the final day of the campaign at Chelsea.

Manager David Moyes has already refused to get involved in any bidding wars this summer having not being prepared to shell out £6m on Preston’s David Nugent with the man seemingly desperate for a move to Goodison having settle for a switch to Portsmouth instead.

Such a price for a striker with no top-flight experience and a one-in-three strike rate in English football’s second tier was not deemed acceptable for Moyes and with Vaughan in such form, making up for lost time following an injury that kept him out for over a year between 2005-06, the Goodison manager may be proved right in being reluctant with his chequebook.

Vaughan, who is vying for a starting berth along with Johnson, James Beattie and his close friend Victor Anichebe, is confident he can be successful whoever he is paired with.

He said: “I like playing with AJ. But I like playing with all the strikers here and you just go out there and see what you can do.

“I don’t know how I was voted man of the match but it was a good game and I enjoyed it.

“It was the best way to celebrate (my birthday) really, with a goal and a good performance from the team. It was really enjoyable.”

Vaughan was also relieved just to get back on the pitch after a week of hard graft at Everton’s early summer training camps in Scotland and Italy.

He said: “All the running and things like that – no one really enjoys it but when it comes to the game everyone loves playing and that’s what we are here to do.”

Manager Moyes, who gave Vaughan his first-team debut against a Crystal Palace side containing current strike partner Johnson in April 2005, revealed how he is delighted with the youngster’s progress. He said: “I think we all know what James Vaughan is all about. It is great when you say he is only 19 isn’t it?

“It makes you realise how much he has done for someone so young and we just hope his improvement continues.”

The game was played to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Milk Cup – the prestigious youth tournament held annually in Northern Ireland – which Everton have won twice in 1995 and 2002.

Vaughan actually played for Everton in the competition four years ago and was given his chance to shine on this occasion as Moyes split his first team squad in two with a friendly being played against Bury at Gigg Lane on the same day.

The game also gave new Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington the chance to run the rule over some his fringe players ahead of the resumption of their qualifying campaign for next summer’s European Championship finals.

From the off, the speedy Everton strike combination of Johnson and Vaughan posed great menace for the Irish defence but the host’s defence kept to their task gamely.

The boys in green produced some good passages of play early on and Braniff saw a shot blocked by Joleon Lescott while McCann sent a chip shot just over the bar after Gareth McAuley laid off Toner’s corner.

But Everton warmed to the challenge with Portuguese full-back Nuno Valente sending over a cross enabling Vaughan to brilliantly turn the defence and Johnson stepped up to crash a shot past keeper Maik Taylor only to be frustrated by the base of a post.

Taylor dealt with shots from Anderson de Silva and Johnson in quick succession before having to come to the rescue again after Sean Webb’s error enabled danger man Johnson to unlock a shot.

Vaughan finally put Everton into a 27th-minute lead, rifling in a shot following hesitancy in the Irish defence as a succession of players failed to clear a van der Meyde corner.

Northern Ireland used all their substitutes in the second period and Vaughan sent a header over and Shiels was only denied the equaliser when Carsley scooped a shot off the line.

Everton settled their win with a goal from promising reserve team star Agard who beat McGovern from close range to push Stephen Connor’s inviting cross from the right over the body of the advancing keeper 12 minutes from the end.

Match Facts

Vaughan 27, Agard 79

NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor, (McGovern 62), Holden, O’Hara, Webb, McAuley, Lomas, Toner (McVey 85), Ward (Callaghan 69), Braniff (Shiels 46), Hamilton (Morrow 46), McCann (Clarke 46).

EVERTON: Turner, Irving, Valente, Rodwell, Lescott, van der Meyde, de Silva, Carsley, Molyneux (Harpur 85), Vaughan (Connor 72), Johnson (Agard 66). Subs: Stubhaug, Akpan, Stewart.

REFEREE: Mark Courtney (Dungannon).

ATT: 4,000.

NEXT MATCH: Preston North End v Everton, Friendly, Wednesday 7.30pm.