Garner wants more special moments with the Toffees

Versatile star hopes his goal at new stadium heralds brighter future

- By JOE THOMAS

JAMES GARNER still replays the moment in his mind - sun shining, full house, the ball rolling into his path, a perfect strike, a bulging net, the roar of 50,000 supporters.

Remembering his special strike in Everton’s first competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Garner said: “I don’t think people talk about how good a feeling scoring a goal is at any level of football, but then you put the context into it - 50-odd thousand people, it wasn’t just a tap-in but a screamer.

“It’s the stuff you do when you're playing on the streets with your mates as a kid.

“You'd create a situation like that and scream your name out as you hit it like a commentator.

“To live out a moment like that was surreal, really. It’s special. I want more of those now.”

It was a goal that sealed a perfect start for the Blues at their new home.

The second goal in the 2-0 win over Brighton, it also kick-started the campaign of a player who is also hoping his fortunes have changed, and of a team that had disappointed days earlier in the season-opening defeat at Leeds United.

But then came Brighton and the wins that followed over Mansfield Town and Wolves that created a surge of momentum.