FREDDIE SEARS almost made himself a West Ham hero for the second time in a week, firing a shot past Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper, in the closing moments only to see the ball come back off the post.

But the damage inflicted on Everton by the 18-year-old substitute and by Dean Ashton, a continual threat who headed home the second-half equaliser, was serious enough. Locked in a battle with Liverpool for the final Champions League qualifying place, Everton meet their Mersey rivals next Sunday at Anfield, where only a win may be enough to sustain their challenge.

It might have been different had Yakubu Ayegbeni, who smashed home his 19th goal of the season after eight minutes, not been denied a legitimate second goal eight minutes later. Victor Anichebe held off several West Ham players on the edge of the penalty area before Scott Parker charged in and, inadvertently, stabbed the ball directly into Yakubu’s path off Anichebe’s calf. The assistant referee raised the offside flag even though Yakubu was level with the last defender.

Ashton, however, supplied the game’s defining moment, for it was transformed when he scored his towering equaliser. Lucas Neill was given time on the right to measure a terrific cross towards Ashton, who outjumped Phil Jagielka and directed his header to Howard’s left. The goalkeeper got a glove to the ball but only knocked it against the inside of the post and across the line. Suddenly, the visitors believed they could steal a win, especially when Rob Green proved resistant to Everton’s efforts to grab a second goal.

On the break, the Hammers fought tenaciously and Howard had to race off his line to save from Sears, who scored on his debut last weekend at Upton Park, before the youngster beat the Everton keeper in the dying moments, only to hit the post. “We’re disappointed not to have won the game in the end,” said Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager.

“Young James Tomkins [like Sears, a homegrown 18-year-old and an England Under19 international] went for the header when the ball came to Yakubu [for the opening goal], he missed it and that rattled him. But he got better and stronger after that and so did the team.”

Ironically, Tomkins almost made a dream start on his debut. Mark Noble’s corner was delivered perfectly for him to direct a solid header, alas, against the crossbar. Everton’s narrow escape had a galvanising effect and Leon Osman went close with a back-post header from a Phil Neville cross before Yakubu ruthlessly exploited Tomkins’ error from a hopeful flick-on by Anichebe. The Nigerian turned and dispatched his shot past Green like a bullet.

West Ham enjoyed a healthy share of possession but they were unable to produce a telling ball for the industrious Ashton until, finally, an innocuous cross floated in left-footed by Noble caused a mix-up between Jagielka and Arteta, who contrived to set up Ashton in front of goal. Incredibly, he dragged his shot wide, but this only increased his desire to be the game’s pivotal figure, which he was. Green also needed to be alert when Anichebe got through and only a smothering save rescued West Ham.

Ashton almost equalised just before the interval with a 20-yard free kick that got a significant deflection off Lescott, but Howard saved defiantly with his legs, and Anichebe might have scored early in the second half when Leighton Baines crossed to the near post, but he got only a glancing header on the ball. The game became more open and a low cross from the left by Baines forced Green to make a sharp save almost point-blank from Yakubu.

Then Ashton landed the hammer blow and Sears almost made Everton pay an even heavier price when he ran past Jagielka on to a long clearance by Green and shot against the upright. “Tiredness crept in and West Ham, playing under less pressure, began to hit us on the break. We were still looking for a second goal,” said Everton manager David Moyes. “The second goal [when Yakubu was denied by the offside flag] would have changed the game and the linesman got it wrong.

“What is important now is that we show our strength and resolve to finish the season in the way we have played for the majority of it.”

Reports emerged last night that Moyes had won his libel action against the publishers of Wayne Rooney's autobiography. Moyes challenged claims by Rooney in the book that he had betrayed the striker's confidence and effectively forced him out of the club. Rooney moved to Manchester United for £27m in August 2004. It was reported that Moyes will now receive an apology and an out-of-court settlement.

Star man: Dean Ashton (West Ham)

Player ratings

Everton: Howard 7, Neville 7, Jagielka 6, Lescott 6, Baines 6, Arteta 7, Carsley 7, Cahill 5 (Fernandes 10min, 6), Osman 6, Anichebe 7, Yakubu 7

West Ham: Green 6, Neill 6, Tomkins 5, Ferdinand 5, McCartney 6, Ljungberg 7 (Solano 80min), Parker 7 (Spector 82min), Noble 7, Mullins 7, Boa Morte 5 (Sears 50min, 6), Ashton 6

Scorers: Everton:Yakubu 8 West Ham:Ashton 68

Referee:M Halsey

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