Everton Secure Third Consecutive Players Cup Win

Everton made it three wins from three in the Subway Players Cup as the Blues beat Sheffield United 2-1 at the Attis Arena on Wednesday night.

Rosa van Gool opened the scoring to net her first goal in royal blue, with Noemie Mouchon grabbing what turned out to be the winner. Lucy Willis notched a consolation for the home side in the first minute of additional time, but the visitors saw out the deserved victory.

It was a proud evening for Everton’s Academy as graduates Zara Plano, Divine Obida and Amy Pracy were named amongst the substitutes in Scunthorpe – Obida and Pracy making their maiden appearances in the second half.

Rylee Foster-Inman was trusted in between the sticks – the shot-stopper having kept consecutive clean sheets in Scott Phelan’s side’s opening two Players Cup fixtures.

A backline of Hikaru Kitagawa, Rion Ishikawa, Megan Finnigan and Hannah Silcock sat in front of her. That defence was guarded by Clare Wheeler and Aurora Galli, allowing the lively van Gool to roam higher up.

Summer signings Hannah Cain and Jutta Rantala lined the wings, with Mouchon leading the line.

Van Gool broke the deadlock with just six minutes on the clock after the midfielder dispossessed Sophie Harwood deep inside the Blades’ half. After winning the ball, van Gool maintained her composure to stroke the ball in to the far right corner.

It was two only seven minutes later as Mouchon netted her second in as many games following her strike against Aston Villa on Sunday. Van Gool was in the thick of the action once more, the Netherlands-youth captain’s low cross too powerful for Sophie Hillyerd who could only palm in to the path of Mouchon.

A barrage of Everton offences ensued, with Mouchon coming closest on 37 minutes. Lightning almost struck twice as the French forward latched on to van Gool’s cross from a similar area. From a tight angle, Mouchon rattled the post with a powerful strike that left the keeper rooted to the spot.

That concluded the action for the first half, with Maz Pacheco, Yuka Momiki and Ornella Vignola replacing Kitagawa, Wheeler and van Gool in the 68th minute.

Cain then came close six minutes later after being picked out by Galli. The wide-forward’s strike arrowed inches wide, though.

Pracy made her Everton debut with 13 minutes remaining as the youngster replaced Mouchon. The Blues’ bench welcomed the Toffees’ number 50 to the field of play, giving her a warm ovation as she stepped over the white line.

Foster-Inman produced a terrific save in the 85th minute to deny Abbie Jones after the youngster breached the Blues’ backline. The keeper stood tall to firmly glove her rifled effort away – all in attendance showing their appreciation for the stop.

However, Willis got one back for the hosts in the 91st minute, but it was ultimately too little, too late for the Sheffield outfit.

Scott Phelan’s side will be hopeful of taking momentum in to Saturday’s (12.45pm) Halloween showdown with Manchester United at Goodison Park.

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