ALAN SHEARER began his afternoon's work at Goodison by greeting Wayne Rooney shortly before kick-off and warmly shaking the 17-year-old's hand.

Ninety exhilarating minutes of Premiership combat later, Shearer trudged disconsolately off the pitch, head down and contemplating how the Everton prodigy - allied to a bad decision from referee Neale Barry - had denied him the prospect of his first medal as a Newcastle United player.

England's brightest youngster had got the better of old warhose Shearer, together with the father of the Premiership house in Sir Bobby Robson, and once again the title was a straight fight between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Ultimately, it mattered little that Everton's victory was tinged with controversy, nor was it of much consequence that Newcastle could argue with some justification that they were worthy a point after a thrilling match.

Even a draw yesterday would have been of minimal use to Newcastle as they challenged Arsenal and United's duopoly that has lasted for seven seasons.

But a defeat, and a six-point gulf between the Magpies and the top two, killed off Robson et al's hopes of making a surprise late burst for the Premiership finishing line.

A stunning goal from Laurent Robert was sandwiched in-between strikes from Rooney and David Unsworth, who converted a 65th-minute penalty that Newcastle claimed ought not to have been given.

Thomas Gravesen, Everton's skulking Danish midfielder, clearly caught Olivier Bernard with a high, late challenge that left the Frenchman prostrate in the Blues half.

Gravesen immediately went to Bernard's aid, realising he had injured the defender, and as the ball was worked out to Rooney the home bench implored him to concede a throw-in to allow the ailing player to receive treatment.

Oblivious to the pleas, Rooney embarked on a snaking run from Everton's left touchline straight at the heart of the Newcastle backline, and he supplied a sumptuous through ball that put Kevin Campbell in on goal.

Jonathan Woodgate, who was otherwise impeccable as his fellow defenders faultered against Rooney, hauled Campbell to the turf, and Barry awarded the penalty.

Shearer seemed to remonstrate with Rooney, clearly telling his young opponent that he should have put the ball out of play, and Bernard received two minutes' treatment as Everton waited to take the penalty.

As Shay Given dived to his left, Unsworth blazed his spot-kick down the middle of the Newcastle goal, and the last rites were being conducted over the Magpies' championship challenge.

Newcastle certainly had their chances to keep on the coat tails of Arsenal and United as, on Grand National weekend, the Premiership reaches The Elbow.

At 1-1, and with Everton reeling shortly before half time, Woodgate crashed a header that was tipped against the underside of the crossbar by Richard Wright.

Then, Wright was Everton's saviour again in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, pushing Titus Bramble's point blank header over his bar after Robert had swung over a free-kick.

Having been mighty unfortunate to lose to Newcastle's late show at St James' Park in December, Everton would no doubt say they were due a slice of good fortune against the Magpies.

But after working themselves into a position to stage a dramatic assault on Arsenal's Premiership crown, could Newcastle have picked a worse time to run into Rooney?

Probably not, and Bramble and Andy O'Brien in particular will not wish to be reminded of how they were repeatedly left bewildered by the kid they call "Roonaldo" in the blue half of Merseyside.

Rooney scored the goal that the whole of Goodison had been anticipating in the 18th minute. Jermaine Jenas's sloppy pass was the launchpad for an Everton attack, and Bramble conceded a corner with a good tackle on England's new striker.

From the corner, Gravesen exchanged passes with Lee Carsley before supplying a cross that was flicked on by David Weir.

As the ball arced towards the six-yard box, Rooney nipped in front of Bernard to plant an instinctive header past Given and in off the post.

The goal was just reward for Everton's bright and breezy start, and Given had to pull off a smart save to foil Campbell two minutes later as Newcastle looked increasingly frail.

However, they slowly established a foothold in the match, and Robert - who frustrates and delights in roughly equal measure - was clearly in the mood to haul Newcastle back on level terms.

After seeing a low cross-shot cleared by Alan Stubbs and sending an ambitious 35-yard drive just wide, Robert found his range with a powerful equaliser on 40 minutes.

Everton seemed to relax as Woodgate strode elegantly out of defence, expecting the defender to launch a high ball towards Shearer's head.

Instead, an accurate diagonal ball picked out Robert, and from just outside the penalty area he unleashed a vicious, swerving strike that Wright could only palm against the bar and into the net.

There was still time in the first half for Craig Bellamy to force Wright into a sprawling stop, plus the Woodgate header that hit the woodwork, and Newcastle were in the ascendancy at the interval.

Everton did not let them settle after the restart, however, and after Rooney and Stubbs had gone close Everton took a decisive lead with the debatable penalty award that infuriated Newcastle's managers, players and fans alike.

Rooney became an even more influential figure, and Brian Kerr produced a goal-saving tackle to deny Mark Pembridge as he bore down on goal following an O'Brien error that was seized on by Everton's boy wonder.

A Robert free-kick struck Rooney - who else? - in the Blues wall, and Jenas fired straight at Wright as Newcastle continued to carve out openings.

But Everton would not be cowed, and Newcastle's eighth Premiership defeat away from St James' Park this season ensured their long wait for a major trophy would go on into 2004.

Result: Everton 2 Newcastle United 1.

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