AN excellent 3-1 win over Crewe Alexandra at Alexandra Park saw Everton under-18s go top of the FA Premier Academy League Group C table on Saturday.

Neil Dewsnip’s side had not played for two weeks but they picked up where they left off thanks to goals from John Lundstram, Johan Hammar and the Anton Forrester.

And coupled with previous leaders Bolton Wanderer’s 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, Everton are now two points ahead of the Trotters after 10 matches.

On Saturday Everton led just before half-time when Lundstram headed in from Femi Orenuga’s superb ball into the area.

Then soon after the restart they made it 2-0 when Hammar headed home his second goal of the season following a Adam Forshaw corner.

Crewe pulled one back due to a disputed penalty. But Forrester broke through on Forshaw’s pass to seal the points and secure Everton‘s second away win of the season.

Dewsnip said: “We played very well and I was very pleased. We had a lot of possession in the first half but didn‘t create many chances. But we managed to get the breakthrough just before half-time.

“We went 2-0 ahead but we were disappointed when the linesman gave a penalty. There was a bit of a kerfuffle on a free-kick. A load of bodies went down and I still find it difficult to understand where the penalty came from. But we scored again and we won 3-1, which was well deserved.”