Our Adobe Women’s FA Cup campaign came to an end on Wednesday evening as Everton ran out 2-0 winners in our fourth round tie.
After quite an uneventful first half at Walton Hall Park, the Toffees burst into life three minutes after the break with Kelly Gago firing home from close range. With us pushing for a leveller late on, the home side wrapped up the victory in stoppage time thanks to a controlled finish from Heather Payne.
Everton progress to the next round of the competition to face Chelsea while we turn our attentions back to Barclays Women’s Super League action with Manchester United the visitors to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday – tickets remain available to buy.
Robert Vilahamn made five changes to the starting XI that defeated Crystal Palace on Sunday as Eleanor Heeps returned between the sticks while Olga Ahtinen came into midfield and took the captain's armband. Academy goalkeeper Sophie Jackson was named in a senior matchday squad for the first time as she was amongst the substitutes.
Matilda Vinberg getting a shot away
On a cold evening on Merseyside, the first half won’t live long in the memory of many as chances were few and far between in the opening 45 minutes. Matilda Vinberg forced Emily Ramsey into a low save at her near post in the early stages while, for the hosts’, Toni Payne carved out space inside the box, although her tame effort was routine for Heeps.
Sara Holmgaard had the final opportunity of the first period as she took aim from distance, around 25 yards out after a searching run from her own half, which was easily gathered by our shot-stopper. However, just three minutes after the restart, the hosts broke the deadlock with Holmgaard involved in the move, sending a low ball across the face of the goal that eventually landed at the feet of Gago at the back post and she fired the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Holmgaard was then inches from doubling their lead shortly after as Emma Watson’s corner picked out the Denmark international at the back post, but her looping header dropped just narrowly wide of the far post. Substitute Rosella Ayane saw her cross strike the outside of the post while a Clare Hunt header was cleared off the line as we continued to push for a leveller in the closing stages of the game.
However, as we pushed bodies forward in search of the equaliser, Everton capitalised at the other end as, in the second minute of stoppage time, substitute Payne found the bottom corner with a controlled finish from the edge of the box and brought an end to our FA Cup campaign at the fourth round stage.
