Everton bounced back to winning ways in WSL as second-half goals from Chloe Kelly and Esme Morgan gave Willie Kirk’s side a deserved 2-0 victory over hard-working Brighton in Southport.

After two frustrating single-goal defeats, the Blues showed real intent from kick-off at The Pure Stadium but it took until the 58^th minute for Kelly to make the breakthrough with her fourth goal of the season.

Morgan then headed home what proved the victory clincher eight minutes later, the on-loan Manchester City full-back notching her first Everton goal.

In what was a well-contested game, Everton started brightly but, in the opening spell, midfielder Inessa Kaagman shot wide of the far post, before a short pass by striker Kelly just evaded the lunging foot of captain Lucy Graham.

Kelly went close in 19^th minute, latching on to a Hannah Cain knockdown but seeing her 15-yard drive saved just inside the far post by diving goalkeeper Megan Walsh.

The first moment of danger from the visitors arrived in the 26^th minute, but midfielder Danni Bowman’s 25-yard free-kick was expertly tipped over the bar by keeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela.

Everton were soon back on the offensive, moving the ball well and stretching the Reading defence but were unable to make the breakthrough on several occasions when they got the ball criss-crossing the penalty area.

Korpela was seeing little of the action, but just before half-time she had to make her second good save as she dived to block a Kayleigh Green shot.

The Blues started the second half at real pace and almost scored when Cain had a 15-yard rising drive pushed over the bar by Walsh.

The Brighton goal had another close call when Simone Magill beat the outrushing Walsh to a through-ball, but the striker’s 20-yard shot went just wide.

The opening goal finally arrived when Kelly, after a good move down the left flank, drilled a low, narrow-angled shot inside the far post.

Kelly then crossed for Kaagman to see a spectacular volley brilliantly saved by Walsh – but from the resulting corner, taken by Kaagman, Morgan rose to plan her header just under the Brighton bar.

As the visitors looked to force their way back into the game they gave Kirk’s team a scare in the 76^th minute, the impressive Lea le Garrec landing a long-range effort on top of the bar.

But Everton played out the rest of the game calmly to claim a victory that keeps them in the top half of the WSL table.