Heroic Blues Sink Villains

A tremendous performance saw Everton continue their strong run of form with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

Maren Mjelde broke the deadlock with 16 minutes on the clock to score the Club’s 250th goal in the WSL. After the ball fell to her inside the area, the defender’s venomous volley nestled in to the roof of the net.

Honoka Hayashi then doubled the Toffees’ advantage a minute shy of the hour mark, making the Villains pay for an error at the back.

Head coach Brian Sorensen named an unchanged side from the Blues’ cruel 2-1 loss to Chelsea last time out.

February Player of the Month nominees Kelly Gago and Toni Payne led the line, with Katja Snoeijs operating in the number 10 role slightly behind them.

Hayashi returned from her SheBelieves Cup triumph with Japan to complete a midfield pairing alongside Hayley Ladd. Meanwhile, Heather Payne, Martina Fernandez, Mjelde, Elise Stenevik and Sara Holmgaard made up the Blues’ backline.

Rachel Daly registered the first attempt of the afternoon inside eight minutes, heading in to the palms of Courtney Brosnan after meeting Chasity Grant’s lofted ball from the right.

The Toffees fought back, though, and opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Mjelde. Stenevik’s curled corner was half-cleared to Toni Payne on the edge of the box. The Nigeria international looked to send the ball back in to the area, but saw her cross blocked.

The Villa backline failed to clear it, fatally allowing the ball to bounce inside the danger zone. Mjelde made them face the consequences - sending a thunderous volley in to the roof of the net to give her side the lead.

The home side searched for an equaliser, with Jordan Nobbs setting her sights on 35 minutes after being found on the edge of the box. The experienced midfielder let fly, but saw her strike sail in to the arms of Brosnan.

After entering the break a goal to the good, it was Sorensen’s side that threatened first after the interval as Ladd forced Talbert in to a good save. The 31-year-old cut-in on to her weaker foot and pulled the trigger, seeing her low effort caught well by the Villa shot-stopper.

Hayashi doubled Everton’s lead in the 69th-minute, capitalising on an error from Talbert in between the sticks. Heather Payne’s deep cross was spilled by the keeper, with the midfielder on hand to perfectly place the ball in off the bar to extend the visitors’ lead.

The hosts looked to claw a goal back to give them hope of stealing a point, but the visitors' solid defence prevented them - Brosnan commanding those in front of her with the impressive backline limiting the Villians to a scarce amount of late chances.

Everton return to home soil next up as they face Arsenal at Walton Hall Park on Friday 14 March (7pm GMT).

Tickets for the clash can be purchased here.