Steve Weaver's development youngsters could count themselves unlucky not to have shared the spoils in their opening reserve fixture of the season with a last minute breakaway goal giving Everton a flattering 2-0 victory.

Scott Malone's early cross was cleared and then he hit a 30-yard volley high over the bar as Wolves made a positive start to the game.

Jose Baxter floated a free-kick into the Wolves area and home skipper Shane Duffy only just failed to get a touch before the ball went behind as Everton threatened for the first time.

Home keeper Adam Davies had little trouble in gathering a 20-yard drive from Ashley Hemmings that lacked power, and then James Spray dragged another shot from distance well wide.

A foul by Duffy on Sam Winnall led to a free-kick to the left of the Everton box but Malone's ball into the middle was headed clear. Then Baxter was shown the yellow card for a late challenge on David Davis.

It was Davis that forced a terrific save from Davies in the 24^th minute - the keeper athletically turning over a piledriver of a shot from the Wolves youngster after Hemmings had played the ball back to him.

Ethan Ebanks-Landell got in a timely block as James Wallace attempted to convert from 12-yards and then Aaron McCarey was forced into action as he got his fingers to Baxter's free-kick after the Everton man had been fouled by Davis.

Baxter wasn't far away with a low shot from outside the area, and, at the other end, Davies just managed to cling onto an angled shot from Winnall who had been fed by Hemmings.

Magaye Gueye's header was deflected behind by Ebanks-Landell after a cross from Nathan Craig and just before the break Davies touched over Nathan Rooney's rising drive after Malone's corner had been half cleared.

Half-Time: Everton 0 Wolves 0

Three minutes after the restart, Winnall beat Shkodran Mustafi on the right of the halfway line. He raced towards the Everton box but appeared to get caught in two minds and his floated cross went behind.

Malone was closer with a fierce cross-shot that was not far away, and Duffy was close for Everton with a powerful header following Craig's corner.

Davis took the full force of a clearance in the face and a persistent nose bleed forced him from the field with Anthony Forde taking his place.

Everton took the lead on the hour when Thomas Donegan's cross was headed towards goal by Gueye. McCarey made a fine save as he turned the ball aside but Baxter ran in to force the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Wallace and Baxter, for late challenges on Hemmings and Forde respectively, were both shown the yellow card in a seven minute spell. In Baxter's case, as it was a second yellow, it meant a red followed. 

A foul by Duffy on Winnall led to a free-kick 25-yards out. Malone took the kick but the ball curled narrowly wide of the post with Davies a spectator.

With Wolves piling forward in search of the equaliser they deserved, Gueye broke clear and in a two on one situation he slipped the ball to substitute Conor McAlney who scored with ease.