GERARD KINSELLA’S superb 30-yard effort was the highlight of Everton under-18s’ excellent 2-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Neil Dewsnip’s side maintained their four-point lead at the top of the Group C table of the FA Premier Academy League.

Everton started well and took the lead with Kinsella’s superb strike on the half-hour mark..

Five minutes later Anton Forrester doubled Everton’s lead from the penalty spot after Femi Orengua had been brought down in the area.

Everton were in control throughout and had numerous opportunities through Forrester, Orenuga, Luke Dobie, Hallam Hope and Johan Hammar, while schoolboy Chris Long nearly marked his debut as a substitute with a goal.

In the end Everton had to settle for the two goals, but they remain in great form at present.

Dewsnip said: “It was a good performance and I was very pleased. The game didn‘t settle down until about half an hour when Gerard Kinsella scored an absolute worldie (world-class goal) from 30 yards into the top corner. That made us feel a lot better and we dominated the rest of the half and much of the second half.

“Early in the second half we had five or six goalscoring chances. The downside is we couldn‘t finish them off. But apart from a chance in the last minute it was quite a comfortable win.

“James Fitzgibbon made his debut in goal and made a wonderful start. He kept a clean and that was positive and hopefully he can go on from strength to strength from there.”

Everton will carry on their title pursuit this Saturday against second-placed Manchester City at Finch Farm (kick-off 11am).

Tyas Browning, Danny Murphy and Adam Thomas are all out injured.

EVERTON UNDER-18s: Fitzgibbon, Barrow, Higgins, Bidwell, Hammar, Orenuga (Dyer 75), Kinsella, Donegan, Dobie, Hope (Long 70), Forrester.