Jack Tierney struck early and Emilio Lawrence added a second late on to earn victory over Sunderland and lift Everton up to 10th in the Under-18 Premier League table.

The young Blues got off to the perfect start at USM Finch Farm, as Tierney (pictured) met Jenson Metcalfe’s corner and headed home off the underside of the bar on three minutes.

Caden Kelly spurned a golden chance to equalise for the Black Cats eight minutes before half-time, missing the target from close range, after goal scorer Tierney’s pass was intercepted.

Sunderland started to take control towards the end of the first half and were almost level going into the break, Kelly again coming close with a superb curling effort.

The visitors started the second half brightly and came close to equalising on 46 minutes when Harry Gardiner was denied by a good save from Jak Stewart.

Everton goalkeeper Stewart was called into action six minutes later, again thwarting Gardiner, this time with an even better save from the striker's flicked header.

Stewart made it a hat-trick of important stops moments later, midfielder Sonny Singh stinging the palms of Everton's 17-year-old number one.

After withstanding the Black Cats’ pressure early in the second half, Everton started to regain control and had two chances in quick succession, Martin Sherif and forward Lawrence both coming close to adding a second.

It was a disciplined and organised collective display from the teenage Blues and the win was secured in the 89th minute, as Lawrence danced his way into the box and drilled low into the corner.

The victory lifts manager Paul Tait’s side one place above Sunderland and into Premier League North's top-10 ahead of a visit to Burnley next Saturday.