Everton 2-2 Ipswich: Tractor Boys come from two goals down to claim a point thanks to Julio Enciso’s stunning strike and George Hirst’s late header

Ipswich fought back from 2-0 down with substitute George Hirst denying Everton victory in their final Saturday fixture at Goodison Park.

On an afternoon of fine goals, Beto’s excellent header broke the deadlock before Dwight McNeil struck with the outside of his left boot in his first start of 2025 following knee surgery.

Relegated Ipswich received a lifeline shortly before half-time when Julio Enciso grabbed a cracker of his own from 30 yards.

And after Hirst had replaced Liam Delap, he completed the comeback with 11 minutes left.

For the penultimate game at their famous old stadium, Everton’s players were given a ticker-tape welcome.

Beto seemed particularly fired up and had three good attempts before opening the scoring after 26 minutes.

Carlos Alcaraz whipped in a brilliant cross from the left and as Ipswich defenders Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess left it to each other, the striker got between them to power a header.

Delap became public enemy No1 after a shoving match with Joey O’Brien earned both men a booking and then he flattened Jarrad Branthwaite with a robust challenge that referee Lewis Smith decided was a natural coming together.

McNeil’s magic moment arrived after 35 minutes. Palmer thought the shot from 20 yards was destined for his left-hand side watched in horror as it swerved the other way.

Enciso, on loan from Brighton, fired in arguably an even better effort to get Ipswich on the scoreboard.

He cut inside Idrissa Gueye and rifled a shot into the top corner from well outside the box for his third Ipswich goal.

Enciso drew a comfortable save from Jordan Pickford early in the second half after Delap’s barnstorming run had seen him bundle his way past Nathan Patterson.

It woke Everton up and McNeil then forced Palmer into a fingertip stop with an impudent chipped cross-shot.

Kieran McKenna made a triple change midway through the second half with Delap among those removed and former England midfielder Kalvin Phillips introduced.

Enciso had half-a-chance to snaffle an equaliser but after being teed up by Georg Hirst, he fired over.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced in the final stages for his first action since January due to injury but he’d only just arrived when Hirst struck.

Omar Hutchinson burst down the right and when his cross deflected up off Gueye’s outstretched boot it fell nicely for Hirst to nod in.

After a bright start under David Moyes, Everton have won just one in 10 and the Scot will be assessing his options ahead of next season in their new stadium.