A Matt Holland freekick just before the break gave Town the points as the Blues once more put in a battling performance to hold on to a one-goal lead, taking them up to 12th in the process.

Sixto Peralta had put Town ahead in the 10th minute before David Unsworth levelled with a disputed penalty. The second half saw a fine performance from the Blues' defence with McGreal and Venus once more magnificent.

Town lined-up with the same personnel as against Fulham on Wednesday, but not all in the same positions. George Burley decided to go for his 5-3-2 formation with Hermann Hreidarsson in the middle of the three central defenders, Clapham on the left and Holland, Peralta and Wright in the midfield. Armstrong continued up front ahead of Marcus Stewart.

Some Town supporters were unhappy at the seating they had been given, particularly a number of Away Match Passport holders who were given tickets that would have been deemed restricted view tickets at most grounds.

The whole area provided for the Blues gave a poor view of the pitch, but the Away Match Passport holders' general complaint is that they always seem to get the worst seats after being assured by the club that they should get the best of Town's allocation. Goodison Park these days is a bit like a very large Third Division ground and the sooner they move the better.

The home side had the first opportunity of the afternoon, but Gary Naismith mis-hit his shot wide of the post after Duncan Ferguson had nodded the ball down to him. Shortly afterwards Andy Marshall had little difficulty in dealing with a Stubbs header from a freekick.

Town came into it and dominated most of the early proceedings. A series of Mark Venus corners caused trouble in the Everton defence and it wasn't long before Town were ahead.

Surprisingly a Venus cross or set-piece weren't involved as the Blues as Sixto Peralta picked up the ball midway inside the Everton half. He took the ball forward before banging it wide to Jamie Clapham 20 or so yards away on the left. Clapham played in a low cross which the Argentinian sent goalwards to Simonsen's right. It was all the Blues deserved for a period of pressure.

Matt Holland made a run down the right in the fourteenth minute. He took the ball inside, but his low cross was cut out when he should have done better. Three minutes later Alun Armstrong hit a low shot from a Bent knockdown which the Everton keeper had little trouble with.

Jermaine Wright hit a shot over from 25 yards after Peralta had taken down a cleared Holland cross. Town were continuing to run the show and another goal looked likely.

However, it was Everton who were to score the next goal, and not without controversy. On 27 the ball was played in to Kevin Campbell just outside the six-yard box with his back to goal. As he turned and took the ball away from goal Andy Marshall dived at his feet to try to take the ball away. Campbell crashed to the ground with Marshall claiming he had got to the ball. Referee Steve Dunn thought otherwise and pointed to the spot. David Unsworth stepped up and despite a solid hand by Marshall, put Everton on terms. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of the penalty it was an equaliser Everton had hardly deserved.

The goal gave the Toffees greater impetus and on 31 it was only a last ditch Venus tackle which prevented Ferguson running through on goal. Two minutes later there were more calls for an Everton penalty when Peter Clarke crashed to the ground under the attention of several Town players. Referee Dunn saw nothing wrong.

On 33 Marcus Bent, quiet up to now, won a good ball in the air and played in Peralta just inside the area. The Argentinian set himself for a shot but Clarke just got the ball away from him.

With the half drawing to a close it looked like the match would be equal at the break. However Town were putting some nice moves together with the greater possession now with them after the Everton spell after the goal. On 44 Jermaine Wright played a lovely 30-yard pass wide to Jamie Clapham. He put a low ball in to Marcus Bent on the edge of the area, to the left, who was fouled. Three Town players stood by the ball deciding who was going to take it, Venus and Clapham both prefer kicks from the right and so it was Matt Holland who stepped up to lash the laid-off ball past Simonsen and into the net. It was a fantastic strike from the captain playing his 201st consecutive Town League game.

Half-time saw Jermaine Wright replaced by Jim Magilton. Prior to the game Wright had been suffering with a groin injury, so that may have been why he was replaced. Everton swapped Clarke for new signing Linderoth.

Everton's first effort of the half saw Ferguson hit a shot well over from a Blomqvist cross. A couple of minutes later Town failed to clear a corner sufficiently and there was a minor scramble which ended with Campbell inexplicably bringing the ball out and a Town throw-in. On 55 Marcus Stewart replace Alun Armstrong.

The was a scare for Town in the 57th minute when Andy Marshall flapped at a cross under pressure from Duncan Ferguson. Luckily for Town Steve Dunn, never afraid to blow his whistle all afternoon, saw an infringement.

Town were under pressure but seemed happy to absorb anything that Everton could throw at them despite the awkward front two of Ferguson and Campbell.

On the hour Sixto Peralta and Marcus Stewart combined well and almost played in Marcus Bent on a rare Town attack. A couple of minutes later Andy Marshall saved an effort from distance by Linderoth.

On 63 Marcus Bent went down injured after a ball had been played over the top. Bent went in with the keeper and a defender and Simonsen appeared to elbow the Town striker. Referee Dunn saw no foul and even let play go on for a minute or so before blowing his whistle despite Bent's head injury.

Three minutes later Jim Magilton was tripped on the edge of the area by Paul Gascoigne. This was Mark Venus territory and the Town defender stepped up and hammered his effort at a suspiciously close wall. Gascoigne was in action at the other end three minutes later, hitting a 30yard shot which gave Marshall little trouble.

With 20 minutes left on the clock Stubbs had an effort from 30-yards from an Everton freekick. Marcus Stewart charged it down and the danger was gone. A minute later though Everton had the ball in the net but the flag had gone up well beforehand.

On 73 it was Town appealing for a penalty as the ball appeared to strike an Everton hand as a freekick was played over form the left. Stewart had been blocked by Stubbs. Surprisingly referee Dunn failed to issue a yellow card.

Town continued to withstand the Everton pressure and on 76 Peralta hooked the ball away with an attacker about to lash goalwards. In the 82nd minute Joe Max-Moore replaced Unsworth as Walter Smith threw everything forward. This actually gave Town greater space in the Everton half and the Blues had their best attacking period of the half.

Everton continued to put pressure on but created little while Town broke occasionally, Bent being found in space on the right after he Stewart and Peralta had broken quickly. A shot from Max-Moore in injury time summed up Everton's finishing and ref Dunn blew his whistle for the final time shortly afterwards.

Another superb victory, and again defensively excellent. Five points ahead of the relegation zone and at last a bit of breathing space. How long before people start talking seriously about European aspirations?

Photo: Action Images

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