Everton see off N Ireland Select

Andy Johnson was denied by goalkeeper Maik Taylor

James Vaughan and Kieran Agard scored as Everton beat a Northern Ireland Select 2-0 in a pre-season friendly at Coleraine Showgrounds on Saturday.

Grant McCann and Kevin Braniff went close for the home side before Vaughan bundled the ball home from close range after 27 minutes.

Andy Johnson was twice denied by Maik Taylor and also hit the post while Dean Shiels had a shot cleared off the line.

Agard chipped Michael McGovern after a Stephen Connor cross on 79 minutes.

McCann fired over early on and Braniff shot across the face of goal before Birmingham goalkeeper Taylor performed heroics to keep out England striker Johnson at the other end.

Taylor again saved from Johnson but Vaughan was on hand to score the opener after the ball fell loose inside the penalty area.

Shiels posed a threat for Northern Ireland and Vaughan headed over from a Nuno Valente cross.

Teenager Agard produced a cool finish for the second goal, beating McGovern, who had replaced Taylor between the posts.

Joleon Lescott, Andy van der Meyde and Lee Carsley were among the other first-team players to turn out for the Toffees but James Beattie, Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman, Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka were absentees.

Taylor, Sean Webb, Gareth McAuley, McCann, Steve Lomas, Ciaran Toner, Shiels, Braniff, Gary Hamilton and Sammy Morrow were in the Northern Ireland ranks with new international manager Nigel Worthington looking on.