Everton Women 0 United Women 3

Merseyside-born Nikita Parris stuck to give Marc Skinner’s side an early lead, before Leah Galton and Hayley Ladd added their names to the scoresheet at a windswept Walton Hall Park in the second half.

The result means the Reds become just the second team in WSL history to win their opening five matches without conceding a goal.

A fast start for the Reds saw Ella Toone force Courtney Brosnan into an early save, the Everton keeper pushing an effort over the bar after Toone latched onto Lucia Garcia’s cross from the right.

Dominating the opening exchanges, United didn’t have to wait long to get a reward as Parris followed up her winner against Leicester last week with a strike in the 13th minute. Parris converted Galton’s knock-down after Katie Zelem’s ball into the area.

At the other end, a driving run from Gabrielle George threatened to restore parity as she cut in along the by-line and unleashed a near-post shot that was repelled by Mary Earps. Then, shortly after the half-an-hour mark, Agnes Beever-Jones tried one from range, again Earps making the stop as she gathered the ball in the swirling wind.

Chances were few and far between in the remainder of the half, as the deteriorating weather continued to play a part – the increasing gusts being added to by driving rain.

Minutes after the interval, Parris picked up the ball in the centre of the park and set off towards goal, before playing in Ela Toone, who was free on the left. Toone fired in a shot, but a defender was on hand to deflect the ball behind.

Toone was then involved in a stylish move set into motion by a smart flick by Garcia, helping the ball on to Galton who couldn’t find the target. However, Galton wasn’t going to pass up a second chance when she was granted the freedom of the penalty area shortly after. Waltzing in-between four defenders, she clinically slid the ball into the bottom corner for 2-0.

Ladd then put the result beyond doubt with a wonderful strike. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, she shaped a shot perfectly into the top corner giving Brosnan no chance.

In search of a consolation, Everton did call Earps into action when Karen Holmgaard got in behind, but our no.1 was equal to her close-range attempt – making the save with an outstretched boot to again remain unbeaten in goal.

MATCH DETAILS

Everton: Brosnan; Finnigan (Galli 69), Sevecke, Veje; Graham (Holmgaard 62), Wheeler, Bjorn, George (Stenevik 61); Beever-Jones (Snoeijs 46), Bennison (Christiansen 46), Park.

Subs not used: Henderson, Maier, Queiroz Costa, Weir.

Booked: George.

United: Earps; Blundell (Thomas 81), Le Tissier (Tounkara 86), Turner, Thorisdottir; Zelem; Garcia (Russo 71), Ladd, Toone (Staniforth 71), Galton; Parris (Boe Risa 86).

Subs not used: Baggaley, Leon, Moore, Williams.

Goals: Parris 13, Galton 55, Ladd 68.

Booked: Blundell.