Captain Lucy Graham scored a 74th-minute winner as Everton Women rounded off their Continental Cup group stage campaign with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Walton Hall Park on Wednesday night.

The result means Everton finish second in Group C – but will not be enough to see the Blues qualify for the knockout stages of the competition as one of the two best runners-up.

United had the first chance of the game when a cross from the left by Katie Zelem was glanced wide.

The Blues then threatened when a delivery from Ingrid Moe Wold led to a scramble in the United box, but the away side had enough bodies back to clear the ball away.

Millie Turner headed over from a corner for United before Everton fashioned a chance of their own from a set-piece.

Nicoline Sorensen’s corner found the head of Meg Finnigan but United keeper Mary Earps made a smart save.

Everton started the second half the brighter of the sides.

A loose ball was pounced upon by substitute Hayley Raso and the Australian skipped past Turner, before seeing her shot well saved by Earps.

United’s Jess Sigsworth then shot across goal but her effort went just past the post.

Everton had a goal disallowed with 20 minutes to go – a corner whipped in by Izzy Christiansen was judged to have struck the hand of an Everton attacker before the ball hit the back of the net.

The Blues broke the deadlock four minutes later, however.

A low cross from the left by Raso was met by Graham who finished from close range.

Everton faced some late pressure, with Sandy Maclver producing an excellent save from Zelem and then keeping out an Ella Toome effort with six minutes to go.

The Blues successfully saw out a confidence-boosting victory ahead of Sunday’s WSL clash at Arsenal.