Ashley Young scored the decisive goal on his first appearance in an Everton shirt as the Blues defeated Wigan Athletic 1-0 at the DW Stadium in a pre-season friendly.
The Club's first summer signing thundered home a deserved winner just after the hour mark to cap another useful work-out for the Toffees.
Assistant Manager Ian Woan and coach Steve Stone were in the dugout for Everton in Greater Manchester, while boss Sean Dyche was in attendance Tranmere Rovers' Prenton Park to cast his eye over a more youthful looking side, who were being led by Under-21s Head Coach Paul Tait.
Jordan Pickford was handed his first match action of pre-season having been afforded a slightly extended break due to international commitments, as Everton began the game in a 4-3-3 formation, with new man Young operating on the left flank of an attacking trio.
There was a competitive edge to proceedings throughout, underlined early on when Charlie Hughes was shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Neal Maupay.
After a couple of early long-range efforts from the Toffees, the game sprang to life on 20 minutes.
A well-worked move down Wigan's right wing eventually presented a chance to Callum McManaman, but the boyhood Evertonian could only steer his side-footed volley wide of the post for the hosts.
Everton responded immediately and, after Nathan Patterson was released in the right channel with a defence-splitting pass by Michael Keane, Neal Maupay looked destined to score after being found with a pull-back, only for Hughes to intervene with an excellent last-ditch block.
Dwight McNeil pounced on the rebound but his left-footed effort was well saved by Sam Tickle at full stretch.
A good combination between Ben Godfrey, Alex Iwobi and Young down Everton's left wing then produced another opportunity, but again, Maupay's effort was rebuffed by another timely sliding block.
After producing the better of the play without consistently threatening in the opening period, the Toffees looked to step up a gear after the half-time interval.
Patterson, who looked a constant threat for Everton throughout, produced a low cross for Maupay, who could only divert his shot straight at Tickle.
Pickford was called into action two minutes later and produced a strong hand to keep out Stephen Humphrys' fierce shot at the near post on a rare foray forward for Wigan.
But Everton continued to look the most threatening and struck the woodwork moments later after more good work from Patterson presented a chance for Doucoure, whose strike from 12 yards cannoned back off the crossbar and was eventually cleared.
The deadlock was eventually broken on 64 minutes.
McNeil's cross from the left was cleared only as far as the edge of the penalty area, where Young saw his initial right-footed drive blocked before rifling the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot to give the Blues a deserved lead.
Everton controlled proceedings after going in front to clinch victory, with Wigan-born Academy prospect Jenson Metcalfe replacing Young on 72 minutes for his first taste of senior action.
Next up for the Toffees is a trip to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday 25 July (7.45pm BST KO).
