ON a day when such intrusions elsewhere proved unsavoury, it was one pitch invasion Goodison didnt mind.

An ecstatic David Moyes could barely contain himself as he raced on to the turf, punched the air with delight and saluted all four corners of the rocking old stadium before giddily retiring to the home dugout.

Small wonder. From the jaws of demoralising and undeserved defeat, Everton had snatched an astonishing, remarkable victory to bolster hopes of Champions League qualification.

Barely two minutes earlier, as the clock ticked into the 90th minute, an acrid air swirled around Goodison as the combination of Clint Dempseys deflected strike and the myopia of referee Kevin Friend and his fellow officials dealt a seeming knockout blow for the home side.

But having long since sorted the problem with their start, Everton are now getting to grips with the finish.

And after drawing level through Steven Pienaar the clubs 1,000th Premier League goal Moyes men completed a thrilling turnaround barely 90 seconds later when Nikica Jelavic swept home the winner.

For Everton, after surrendering victories in the dying moments to Newcastle United, Fulham and Norwich City earlier in the season, it was a hugely satisfying manner in which to leapfrog opponents Tottenham Hotspur into fourth place.

For Moyes, too, it was a moment to savour. The Scot would never publicly admit so, but being overlooked completely as the Londoners turned to Andre Villas-Boas in the summer would have surely irked, adding to the gusto of his on-pitch celebration.

So Everton emerge from unbeaten from a testing triumvirate Moyes had determined would act as a barometer for his teams progress, following richly-deserved draws against Arsenal and champions Manchester City.

And while they left it late yesterday, the three points were merited against a Tottenham team who are emerging as their strongest rivals for that cherished fourth place.

Certainly, the Londoners will have made the long journey home aware there should be no questioning Evertons staying power and desire to rub shoulders with the Premier Leagues upper echelons, fortified by a record that now reads just two defeats in their last 25 top-flight outings.

Moyes, of course, does not have the same playing resource as Villas-Boas, illustrated when Kevin Mirallas, back after four weeks out, aggravated his hamstring shortly before the end of an impressive first-half showing and failed to appear for the second half.

But what they do possess is an indomitable spirit and unshakeable belief in themselves and each other that still provides the bedrock of any Moyes team.