Everton In Hard-Fought West Ham Draw

Everton were held to a goalless Women's Super League draw at West Ham United on Sunday.

Both sides fought hard and created plenty of opportunities to pinch all three points, although a share of the spoils was a fair reflection of the match.

Willie Kirk’s side have already secured fifth place and the draw means the Toffees are unbeaten in their past three games on the road.

Nicoline Sorensen had the best two chances for Everton, twice being denied by smart saves from Courtney Brosnan.

West Ham’s clearest opportunity came for Scottish International Martha Thomas just after the hour mark when her glancing header crashed off the Everton crossbar.

The home side started the game on the front foot with a flurry of crosses from Gilly Flaherty into the Everton penalty area, well dealt with by the visiting defence.

Everton's first opening arrived following a frantic start to the game, Sorensen’s ball across the six-yard box agonisingly out of reach of Valerie Gauvin at the far post.

The Toffees were then let off the hook when Thomas latched on to a loose ball from Izzy Christiansen back towards her own goal – the Hammers forward dragging her effort wide from 10 yards.

Sorensen found herself in another dangerous position following a sumptuous first-time ball from Poppy Pattinson. The Dane struck her effort with pace but Brosnan was equal to it in the West Ham goal.

Just before half-time, the home side were claiming a penalty for a handball inside the Everton penalty area.

The visitors failed to clear their lines from a near-post corner and, somehow, Hawa Cissoko failed to turn the ball in from a succession of close-range efforts that were blocked on the goal line. West Ham were adamant a handball occurred amid the goalmouth scramble.

Inside the opening five minutes of the second half, Kenza Dali spurned a golden opportunity to give her side the lead when she lashed an effort over from close range.

West Ham missed another gilt-edged opportunity on the hour mark, Emily van Egmond this time nodding wide from a free header.

The Hammers continued to pile the pressure on Everton and it was another chance spurned when Thomas’ header crashed off the top of the crossbar and behind for a goal-kick.

Sorensen created Everton's first real second-half opportunity with 15 minutes remaining. She produced a deft flick through the legs of a Hammers defender before smashing straight at Brosnan.

Minutes later, Christiansen saw a free-kick deflect off the West Ham wall and trickle just wide of the post with Brosnan rooted to the spot.

Everton Women return to WSL action next Sunday with a tricky home clash against Arsenal at Walton Hall Park (1pm).