BATTLING Accrington Stanley suffered Lancashire Cup heartbreak as a late Everton goal saw the Reds beaten in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.

Stanley had led through Marcus Carver's early opener but the Toffees hit back to level before the break through Joe Williams.

And, with extra time looming, Courtney Duffus headed home a winner for the Premier League outfit in a tie played at Southport's Haig Avenue.

Stanley fielded a strong side with Liam Wakefield, Tom Smith, Gerardo Bruna and Terry Gornell all starting.

But it was Gornell's strike partner Carver who opened the scoring when he headed home Bruna's cross inside the opening 10 minutes.

Everton responded but Stanley stopper Ross Etheridge made a couple of smart saves only to be beaten by Williams' crisp finish 14 minutes before the break.

David Unsworth's side, who knocked out Blackburn Rovers in the last eight, enjoyed the majority of possession after the interval but Stanley defended well only to be beaten by sub Duffus' header nine minutes from time.