Report: Everton 1 United Women 1

Ella Toone completed a breath-taking counter attack to give the Reds the lead after 10 minutes, but a second-half equaliser from Simone Magill saw the spoils shared.

The result at Walton Hall Park means Marc Skinner’s side are unbeaten in four in the league, but have drawn the last three.

FIRST HALF

Taking place on Remembrance Sunday, the match was preceded by the playing of the Last Post, with both managers and captains laying poppy wreaths to pay respects to those killed in conflicts around the world.

Kicking off the first half, the Reds were putting the hosts under pressure from the word go – even having a set-piece chance after Martha Thomas was fouled in the first minute, although Katie Zelem’s delivery was cleared. A chance then came the way of Vilde Boe Risa, who let fly from range, but saw her shot wide to the left of goal.

The Toffees were looking to grow into the game when they turned over possession deep in United territory, with Hannah Blundell clearing with a ball across the penalty area to Alessia Russo. As Russo drove out she played in Thomas wonderfully, who cut the ball across to Toone on the edge of the area. Completing a lethal counter attack, Toone fired the ball into the net for 1-0.

Having gone behind, Everton had an opportunity to create a leveller with a free-kick, but Izzy Christiansen’s floated delivery was easy for Mary Earps to claim. Kenza Dali then found Claire Emslie in behind who, in trying to chip Earps, lifted her shot over the bar.

It might have been 2-0 around the half-hour mark when Russo won a corner following the sort of work that had seen her dominate the right-hand side. Thomas flicked on Zelem’s cross with her head, but Aoife Mannion couldn’t quite do enough to turn the ball into the net.

Toone worked an opening when taking on her defender 1-on-1, but lifted it over. Meanwhile Everton were digging deep to try and find an equaliser before the break as Valerie Gauvin first miskicked when in the box and saw a tame header saved. Emslie then hit the crossbar having had a go from distance.

SECOND HALF

Thomas had a great chance 10 minutes into the second 45 when full-back Ona Batlle refused to give up when United had originally lost the ball. Winning back possession right on the by-line, she picked out her teammate – but Thomas couldn’t find the target.

Compared to the first half, the second was much more of a battle fought in the midfield, which was highlighted when Rikke Sevecke was booked for bringing down Hannah Blundell and then Sevecke was taken out shortly afterwards by Zelem, who herself received a yellow card.

The leveller then came from nothing for Everton and just a short moment after Earps was down and in some discomfort. Substitute Simone Magill tried to get on the end of the ball as Maria Thorisdottir attempted to shield her. Earps came to collect and just as she appeared to get the ball in her grasp, Magill poked the ball out of her control and into the net.

High on confidence from their leveller, the hosts enjoyed a spell of possession as they searched for a winner, including a Dali effort from range but that was over the bar. Duggan, who had largely been quiet for much of the match then also had an effort two minutes from time. Volleying from around the penalty spot, Earps doing well to cacth it.

Up the other end, Toone was denied a second by a diving Alexandra Maciver in the Everton net as she unleashed a dangerous curling shot with her left foot. Had the keeper not got a hand to it, her strike surely would have been enough to claim all three points.

MATCH DETAILS

Everton: Maciver; Turner, George, Sevecke, Maier; Graham (Clinton 68), Dali, Christiansen (c); Emslie (Bennison 82), Duggan, Gauvin (Magill 68).

Subs not used: Brosnan, Finnigan, Pattinson.

Goals: Magill 76.

Booked: Sevecke.

United: Earps; Blundell, Mannion, Thorisdottir, O. Batlle; Boe Risa (Hanson 65), Zelem (c); Russo, Toone, Galton; Thomas (Staniforth 65).

Subs not used: Baggaley, F. Fuso, Smith, Jones.

Goals: Toone 10.

Booked: Zelem.