Blues Secure Third Consecutive Win Against Birmingham

Everton commenced their Subway Players Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City to make it three wins from three – the Toffees unbreached through the trio of fixtures.

Megan Finnigan started from the off to mark her first appearance since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury 602 days prior.

A fearless header from Zara Kramzar and a stunning effort from Yuka Momiki secured the home victory for the Blues, who bring their scintillating form in to the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Head coach Scott Phelan used the Cup match as an opportunity to rotate, with Rylee Foster-Inman, Issy Hobson, Aurora Galli and captain Finnigan earning their first minutes of the season.

However, Hobson was forced off inside the opening five minutes after a collision in the middle of the park. The youngster went for the ball at full stretch and immediately signalled to the bench after going down. Hannah Blundell came on in her place at right-back.

It was the visitors who threatened first as Suzu Amano rattled the post after picking up the ball inside the area ten minutes later. Foster-Inman was alert to the near-post effort, and would have saved the strike had it have been a couple of inches to the right.

It was Everton that made the breakthrough two minutes later, though, as Kramzar bravely beat Lucy Thomas. Momiki delicately clipped the ball over the Blues’ backline, with Kramzar racing forward to meet it. She nipped in front of the outrushing keeper, risking a collision with her fists, and headed the ball home.

Finnigan then came close to marking her return with a goal – the skipper’s strike hitting the side-netting after Momiki’s corner was cleared only as far as her.

The lively Momiki then almost turned goalscorer on 36 minutes, but saw her curling effort sail narrowly over the upright as the Toffees kept up the pressure.

Wilma Leidhammar came close to restoring parity for the second-city side on the stroke of half-time – the Swede’s volley drifting wide of Foster-Inman’s frame.

Phelan’s side then doubled their lead ten minutes after the interval as Momiki netted another trademark screamer. The forward drifted in-field from the right before unleashing an unstoppable strike that left Thomas routed to the spot and nestled in to the top right corner.

Two changes followed on 68 minutes as Hikaru Kitagawa and Hannah Cain replaced van Gool and Vignola.

Cain almost made an instant impact, but saw her near-post effort saved by Thomas – the keeper standing her ground to keep the scoreline down.

Momiki then almost doubled her tally four minutes later – Thomas coming out on top on this occasion by batting her dragged shot away.

Attention turns to Anfield on Sunday afternoon (12pm KO), with Everton hopeful of securing a fourth consecutive win against their fierce rivals across the park.