Everton 0 United Women 1
Manchester United Women continued our perfect start to the season as an early Grace Clinton goal and a clean sheet secured all three points for the Reds.
After a lengthy stoppage in play, as Inma Gabarro went down injured, the two sides settled into the game.
Despite chances for both sides in the second half, it was Clinton's goal that proved to be the difference, securing United's first away win of the 2024/25 season.
Triumph against the Toffees
GalleryView the best shots from the Reds' victory at Walton Hall Park.
FIRST HALF
An early corner for Everton inside the first minute didn't trouble Tullis-Joyce, despite the blustery conditions at Walton Hall Park.
Grace Clinton opened the scoring within the first five minutes. Everton's defence didn't look after the ball well and our no.8 anticipated the loose pass just outside of the area. She drove into the box, cut inside on her right foot to make space, before smashing it past Courtney Brosnan.
A nervy moment for the Reds at the other end saw Karoline Olesen one-on-one with Tullis-Joyce, who made herself big to make the save. It looked like the ball could creep into the far bottom corner, but Le Tissier was there to clear it off the line.
Once the game had restarted, it was the hosts again who had the better spell of possession, but they were not clinical in the final third and United looked content to hit them on the counter. There was a chance for Elisabeth Terland who dragged her shot wide.
The game had become less frantic after the injury to Gabarro and settled into a midfield battle. The hosts managed another long-range shot courtesy of Sara Holmgaard, but it didn't trouble Tullis-Joyce as she watched it go out for a goal-kick.
With eight minutes of injury-time added on, Skinner's side regained control of possession and had more opportunities going forward. A lofted through ball from Ella Toone almost found its way to Leah Galton, but Brosnan was having a good game between the sticks for Everton and read the ball well.
SECOND HALF
The second half started similarly to how the first had ended. The two teams battled to keep hold of the ball in the middle of the park. There was a tussle going on between Millie Turner and Clare Wheeler as Everton pushed for an equaliser. Turner felt she had fairly held off the Australian midfielder, but the referee awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area. Tullis-Joyce commanded the box well and calmly collected the ball.
At the other end, Toone managed to dribble the ball into the box and picked out Dominique Janssen in lots of space. She took a touch too many and Everton closed her down, preventing the shot. The Toffees cleared but only as far as Turner who smashed a long-range effort straight at Brosnan.
After an opportunity in the first half, new signing Terland had a chance again in the second to open her account for the Reds after making a good run down the left, but her shot lacked power and the Everton goalkeeper was able to gather.
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With five minutes left of the 90, indecision from Everton's backline allowed Malard to steal the ball in the penalty area, she cut it back to Miyazawa who smashed it towards the goal but miraculously Everton's Justine Vanhaevermaet managed to head it clear.
The Belgian had kept the hosts in this contest and they had a chance of their own following a free-kick which forced a great save from Tullis-Joyce.
The game had opened up significantly in the final few minutes and Malard had a chance to counter but she had a lot of work to do on her own and Brosnan managed to save her shot.
The Toffees' no.1 had had a good game, but United managed to see the game out and come away with the three points.
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Everton: Brosnan; Vanhaevermaet, Finnigan, Stenevik, Holmgaard (Hobson 82); Olesen (T. Payne 64), Hayashi, Wheeler, Gabarro (Sarri 14), Hope (H. Payne 64); Snoeijs (Bissel 64).
Unused substitutes: Foster, Jones, Thomas.
Bookings: Snoeijs, Holmgaard.
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Turner, Galton; Naalsund (Awujo 67), Janssen; Geyse (Bizet 68), Clinton, Toone (Miyazawa 76); Terland (Malard 67).
Unused substitutes: Middleton-Patel, George, Mannion, Ladd, Williams.
Goals: Clinton 4.
Bookings: Riviere, Malard.