Everton lead at half-time

Dunfermline 0 Everton 1

Everton midfielder Gary Naysmith offered Scotland manager Berti Vogts a timely reminder of his ability with the only goal of the first half at Dunfermline.

Vogts was in the East End Park stand to watch the ex-Hearts man make only his second appearance since mid-February after an ankle operation.

However, Naysmith’s strike was also a timely boost for Vogts with the friendly against Denmark next month ahead of the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

Tomasz Radzinski almost embarrassed the home side after just 10 seconds though he could only push the ball wide from Tony Hibbert’s long pass over the top.

Striker Kevin Campbell almost glanced a header home in the 15th minute from a Lee Carsley cross but the ball drifted wide.

But it was Naysmith who provided the opener when he held off Lee Bullen - illegally in the eyes of the home crowd - and placed the ball beyond the advancing Marco Ruitenbeek to open the scoring in the 18 minute.

Naysmith almost grabbed a second after a surging Steve Watson run but Bullen eventually cleared in the area with the Scotland international lurking.

At the other end Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard did well to hold a point-blank Craig Brewster header as new signing Richard Wright watched from the stand.