Report: United Women 0 Everton 0

Marc Skinner's side created a plethora of opportunities, but couldn't quite find the all-important winner that would have give us three points. 

Lucia Garcia, Alessia Russo and Katie Zelem all had excellent chances to score but were met by the resilience of Everton shot-stopper Courtney Brosnan.

Skinner’s side started the game with purpose, dominating the possession in the opening 45. But for all the ball we had, it was Everton who created the first opportunity of the game. An inswinging corner was met by Rikke Sevecke, whose towering header bounced just wide of Mary Earps’s goal. 

United were very nearly caught out at the back by Brian Sorensen’s side near the 30-minute mark. Nicoline Sorensen drilled a teasing ball into the path of the oncoming Jess Park, but a vital last-minute intervention from Ona Batlle prevented what was an almost certain goal for the Manchester City loanee. 

For all of our possession, our best chance wouldn’t come until the 36th minute when Lucia Garcia was one-on-one with Brosnan. A brilliant driving run from Ella Toone opened up the space to play in her team-mate, the Everton shot-stopper closed the angles down quickly forcing Garcia to go high but her effort hit the crossbar. 

Moments later, Alessia Russo came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock for Skinner’s side. Our no.23 started the move before being on the end of a ball into the box from Batlle, but her sweeping effort brushed by the post as a stranded Brosnan could only watch it fly just wide. 

The Reds started the second half quickly, eager to get in front. A great move saw the ball roll into the path of Toone, but our no.7 could only watch as her effort hit the post with United unable to do anything with the loose ball. 

With Everton pinned inside their own half, Skinner’s side continued to carve out the goalscoring opportunities, the next of which fell to Hannah Blundell. Great work from Garcia on the edge of the area to play in the full-back allowed Blundell to open up her body and shoot but the effort was saved comfortably by Brosnan. 

Another great sight of goal came down the right-hand side with Batlle picking out captain Katie Zelem in the area, with the latter's effort stinging the gloves of Brosnan who was once again equal to it. 

With 20 minutes to go, the Toffees had an opportunity to score following a quick breakaway move, but Park’s effort was gathered with ease by Earps. Minutes later, however, Park had another chance to give the visitors the lead when Batlle’s backpass fell to her. Millie Turner and Earps were quick to close down the angle, though, and she could only hit the side netting. 

Despite throwing everything at Sorensen’s side, we just couldn’t find the breakthrough and it ended all square at Leigh Sports Village. 

MATCH DETAILS

United XI: Earps; Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Zelem, Ladd; Garcia (Williams 77), Toone, Galton (Parris 67); Russo. 

Unused substitutes: Baggaley, Thorisdottir, Mannion, Tounkara, Boe Risa, Cascarino, Thomas. 

Everton XI: Brosnan; Bjorn, Finnigan (Hope 56), Sevecke, George; Snoeijs (Stenevik 87), Holmgaard (Christiansen 67), Galli (Wheeler 56); Sorensen (Bennison 56), Beever-Jones, Park. 

Unused substitutes: Henderson, Maier.