Facing the Barclays Premier League’s Goliaths, it seems only right that Stoke City use a catapult. The long throws of Rory Delap were such a weapon yesterday that clearing the ball into row Z was the most dangerous thing Everton could do.

“Like a human sling,” David Moyes, the Everton manager, said of Delap. “Part of the secret against Stoke is to keep the ball on the pitch. Off the pitch they’re a real threat.”

The home team’s strident style almost earned them a point, but after erasing a two-goal deficit, Stoke succumbed to Tim Cahill’s late header. Back from injury and making his first appearance since March, the Australia midfield player settled a brainless, breathless and brilliant match.

Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, said: “Long throws are part of the game.” His team are hardly more subtle in open play, but their best hope of survival is to produce performances such as this, his players offering guts and grit, feeding off the atmosphere at the Britannia Stadium.

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They began well, but the visiting team shook off a heavy-legged start and Yakubu Ayegbeni’s cool low finish just before the break was built upon by Victor Anichebe’s glancing header soon after half-time.

Enter Delap. Two long throws led to goals: Seyi Olofinjana volleyed in when the defence failed to clear, then Phil Jagielka’s head helped Delap’s delivery into the net, soon after Ricardo Fuller had an equaliser ruled out for allegedly fouling Joseph Yobo.

Then Alan Wiley, the referee, drew Moyes’s ire for awarding a penalty to Everton for handball against Leon Cort before incorrectly downgrading it to a free kick. Moyes was sent off for his reaction. “I complained to the fourth official, as you would do if you think you’ve got it right,” he said. “They’ve said they’ll apologise if they’ve got it wrong.”

Cahill settled it, unmarked at a corner. No use in Stoke winning the 50-50 balls if they give crafty opponents half-chances.

Stoke City (4-4-2): T Sorensen 6 – A Griffin 6, L Cort 6, I Sonko 6, D Higginbotham 6 – L Lawrence 7 (sub: R Cresswell, 86), Abdoulaye Faye 6 (sub: M Tonge, 81), S Olofinjana 7, R Delap 6 – R Fuller 7, D Kitson 6 (sub: M Sidibe, 81). Substitutes not used: S Simonsen, R Shawcross, A Wilkinson, G Whelan. Booked: Fuller, Faye.

Everton (4-1-4-1): T Howard 6 – P Neville 6, J Yobo 5, P Jagielka 6, J Lescott 6 – S Castillo 6 – V Anichebe 6 (sub: J Vaughan, 90), T Cahill 7 (sub: J Rodwell, 81), M Fellaini 6, M Arteta 7 – Yakubu Ayegbeni 7. Substitutes not used: C Nash, L Baines, N Valente, J Kissock, J Baxter. Booked: Arteta.

Referee A Wiley Attendance 27,415