After missing a succession of chances, Dominic Calvert-Lewin guilty of the ost glaering miss among them, James Garner eventually put the Toffees ahead with a silky free-kick from the edge of the box that curled inside the far post.

Bu Salford continued to push hard at its illustrious visitor, and drew level on 69 minutes courtesy of a bizarre own goal as Everton's defence scrambled to clear a dangerous cross.

It was only three minutes from time when former Liverpool player Ben Woodburn threaded a throughball behind the Everton defence to find Dan Chesters, who calmly rounded the keeper to score the winner.