Bury 15/7/06
Andy Johnson was undoubtedly the biggest draw for the hundreds of Evertonians that made their way to Gigg Lane for this opening friendly of the pre-season campaign - as the impromptu pitch invasion to mob the striker proved on the final whistle.
But whilst the club's record signing showed the pace and mobility that made him David Moyes' top target of the summer, it was his teenaged partner who provided the goals that guided the Toffees to victory against Bury.
Victor Anichebe netted a goal in each half, with Mikel Arteta adding another from a stunning first-half free-kick as the Blues secured a 3-1 win against a spirited Bury side.
The Shakers deserved their consolation strike from Matthew Tipton shortly before the interval.
And that goal added a little spice in the second period before Anichebe's second in the 63rd minute.
But Everton were the better side, with Mikel Arteta and Leon Osman controlling the midfield.
Johnson had no fewer than five opportunities to net his first goal of pre-season but was denied by the in-form Alan Fettis.
Andy Johnson in action at Gigg Lane
But the goals will undoubtedly come from the £8.6m on this evidence.
Arteta was at the centre of much of the drama, although his first glimpse of the ball did not work out well for Everton.
His stray pass inside the opening minute of the game fell invitingly to Marc Goodfellow midway inside the Everton half. He charged into the box before driving a left-foot effort narrowly wide of the near post.
Minutes later and, as the sun's rays drenched Gigg Lane, young midfielder Scott Phelan floated a ball deep into the Bury penalty area. Alan Fettis misjudged its flight and it took a block from former Tranmere defender Dave Challinor to prevent Bjarni Vidarsson's effort from a tight angle finding the target.
Victor Anichebe celebrates the opening goal at Gigg Lane
Mikel Arteta, having recovered from a bout of chicken pox, skimmed the top of the netting with a well struck free-kick from 20 yards as the Blues began to take control of the contest.
And that growing control of proceedings was confirmed in the ninth minute when Victor Anichebe netted coolly at the back post from a Leon Osman centre.
Having gone close from an almost identical position, Arteta fired in with a superb free-kick in the 22nd minute after Leon Osman had been felled on the edge of the box.
The lead could have been extended minutes later when Andy Johnson received the ball in the penalty box and looked to have rounded Fettis, only for the keeper to claw the ball back as the striker prepared to shoot.
Andy Johnson congratulates Mikel Arteta after the Spanish midfielder's sweet 22nd minute free-kick
Fettis frustrated the summer signing again on 27 minutes with a good stop with his legs after Osman had robbed Tom Kennedy on the edge of the Bury box before feeding in the £8.6m man.
As the pressure from the visitors intensified, Phil Neville blasted an effort against the foot of a post shortly after the half-hour mark and Anichebe sent a header over the bar. But the third goal did not materialise and instead the Blues - wearing their new mustard third kit for the first time - went in just 2-1 up at the break.
Striker Matthew Tipton produced a goal from nothing to the delight of the home crowd, firing in a left-footed drive from 25 yards that flew beyond the dive of Iain Turner inside the near post.
Buoyed by that unexpected strike, Bury started the second period the brighter and almost equalised through Andy Bishop who tried his luck with an audacious volley from 25 yards that fell narrowly wide of Turner's right-hand upright.
But the visitors quickly regrouped and another flash of Arteta's quality from set-pieces in the 55th minute perfectly picked out the run of Johnson into the penalty box.
Having escaped his marker, the England striker fired a low shot goalwards that Fettis got a hand to. The ball bounced fortuitously up into the air and just over the bar to the relief of the keeper.
Everton made their first change of the afternoon on the hour, removing Iain Turner and giving John Ruddy 30 minutes to impress.
But it was fellow youngster Anichebe who was really relishing in the sunshine, turning neatly in the box to claim his second of the game in the 63rd minute as the home side called for an offside flag that never materialised.
Johnson continued to threaten in his first outing as an Everton player, but twice further in the final quarter of the contest the record signing was denied by Fettis.
But his mobility demonstrated precisely why he will prove such a useful asset for the Toffees in the new season.
Alan Kearney made a late appearance as a sub for Bjarni Vidarsson and Anichebe was denied a hat-trick by a brave block in the closing stagers as this game ended in a satisfying victory for the boys from Goodison.
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