THEIR title dream may have ended, but Everton under-18s at least ended the FA Premier Academy League season in fine style with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Manchester City on Saturday.

Neil Dewsnip’s side’s hopes of topping the Group C table ended with last Tuesday‘s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Finch Farm.

But they confirmed the runners-up spot with a wonderful display at Manchester City thanks to a hat-trick from Conor McAleny and other strikes from James Wallace and Danny Murphy.

Everton were 5-0 up and cruising, and also missed a penalty. But City scored two late goals from Ahmad Benali following a corner and a Harry Bunn penalty.

Against United Jose Baxter went close twice early on and centre-back Shan Duffy headed over.

United took the lead following hesitancy in the Everton backline.

Baxter was denied early in the second by a wonderful save by the United keeper following his superb free-kick.

Everton striker Hallam Hope hit the bar and post as they tried to grab an equaliser, but a counter- attack with three minutes left ended their hopes as United scored a second.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on top spot, Dewsnip was delighted with their efforts in the final weeks of the season and the campaign as a whole.

“It has been a really positive season,” he said. “All the youth players really have contributed to that. We are playing so well at the moment we don’t want the season to end. But it has and we do need to rest. We have played a lot of football, the lads will go away and rest for four or five weeks and then get back at it.”

Midfielder Ross Barkley and defenders Jake Bidwell and Luke Garbutt have been named in John Peacock’s 18-man England squad for the UEFA U17 European Championship.