Everton were knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night following a 1-0 defeat at Mansfield Town.
A solitary second-half goal from defender Zander Diamond settled the issue but the young Blues can have few complaints about the outcome.
Mansfield, who made 11 changes from the side that drew with Exeter City in League Two at the weekend, enjoyed the better of the early exchanges as Everton struggled to get into their stride.
However, it was the young visitors who crafted the best opening of the half when Nathan Broadhead ran at the home defence and slid a lovely pass into the path of Antony Evans who was denied by a smart block by the keeper, Bobby Olejnik.