By Jonathan Mcevoy of the Daily Post

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PAUL Gascoigne could be excused a scratch of the head to remember his last goal.

Trawling through the memory bank he put his finger on one he scored for Middlesbrough against Leicester three-and-a-half years ago. His mind was playing tricks on him.

In fact, Gazza's goal - a clinical strike to round of a free-flowing move to give Everton a 2-1 lead - was merely his first for 26 MONTHS, which came against Chelsea on September 19, 1999.

Not many weeks ago, the doubters were declaring last rites on the Geordie's career while the vultures buffed their beaks at the prospect of picking through the pieces of his mercurial career.

This performance - hard-working, inventive and capped by his first Everton goal - was, then, a two-fingered salute to the critics.

Gazza struck what should have been the winner 12 minutes into the second half. Tomasz Radzinski, playing as a lone striker, set Gary Naysmith free and the Scot squared the ball for Gascoigne to apply a deadly finishing touch.

It was the move of the match scored by the man of the match. Never one to under act, a beaming Gascoigne pointed to the name on the back of his shirt in a spontaneous show of relief and celebration.

But the smile was finally wiped off his face as an old story repeated itself - the one where the Blues fail to win a game they should have done.

Michael Ricketts dealt the killer blow with 15 seconds of four minutes of injury time remaining, back-heeling the ball home to spoil goalkeeper Steve Simonsen's full debut.

It was hard luck on the 22-year-old stopper. He had waited three years for full debut - and he showed just why the Blues shelled out a British record £3.3million fee - even if the appearance-related nature of the deal means only a fraction has been paid - to bring him across the Mersey from Tranmere with a string of outstanding saves.

But for all the sympathy you can summon up for Simonsen, you can't extend so much to his team-mates.

How often can you say that Everton were in a position to win a game, but threw it away? On enough occasions already this season, that's for sure. Against Ipswich, Blackburn, Tottenham and Newcastle, we've heard the same record. Hard luck stories don't win you points - and Everton know they must learn that lesson fast.

Ricketts was on hand in the ebbing moments of an absorbing game, capitalising on a Ricardo Gardner corner from the right helped on by Gudni Bergsson to snatch a draw.

Wanderers' saviour was quick to pay tribute to Gascoigne, saying: "Paul Gascoigne is superb. He took his goal very well. He kept giving me tips on the pitch throughout the game. He said things like: 'Great lay-off' or 'Great pass' - and he wasn't taking the Mickey either!

"He wanted to enjoy it. It was obvious. He got on well with the opposition players. I have never been on the pitch with him before - it was a privilege."

At least Walter Smith must now feel vindicated in bringing Gascoigne's unpredictable talents to Merseyside.

It's not all been smooth running - Gazza spent a spell in rehab over the summer - but at least for now the most famous crying footballer has plenty to laugh about on a personal level.

Never mind hanging up his boots before his current deal expires in the summer, what about an extension?

Of more immediate concern to Smith is his team's inability to finish games off. Everton were thrown out of their stride in the 11th minute when a harsh refereeing decision by Andy D'Urso - he who never plays advantage and had an erratic afternoon - gave the home side a freekick 20 yards out. David Weir was the supposed culprit for stopping Kevin Nolan in his tracks, though the midfielder appeared to slip on the wet turf.

Per Frandsen stepped up and, with a smart piece of quick thinking while Simonsen was lining up the wall, detected and infiltrated a hole from 20 yards.