Ndiaye double sees Blues leave Goodison on a high

Iliman Ndiaye scored the last goals at Goodison Park as Everton signed off 133 years of history with a fitting 2-0 win over an abject Southampton.

- CARL MARKHAM

Nottingham Forest’s Horace Pike had the honour of being first on the scoresheet here in September 1892 – Fred Geary registered the Toffees’ first in the 2-2 draw – but Senegal international Ndiaye had the final say.

The 2,791st men’s senior match at the ground was a celebration from beginning to end as fans said farewell to the old in anticipation of the new with the pending move to BramleyMoore Dock.

Everton’s women have been handed the keys for next season after new owners The Friedkin Group abandoned plans to demolish the first purpose-built football stadium in the country, but this was the final time Goodison will be packed to the rafters.

There were 39,201 inside but thousands more turned up with their blue smoke and pyrotechnics to mark the occasion, with pleas for any spares falling on deaf ears of those lucky few with a golden ticket – reportedly selling for more than £1,000 on some resale sites.