Scott Phelan began his managerial reign with a victory thanks to Inma Gabaro’s first ever goal for Everton Women, ensuring that it would be a memorable weekend for the Blue half of Merseyside in the capital.
The Spaniard collected Yuka Momiki’s clever pass and finished with confidence just after the hour mark, as the Toffees endured a lot of pressure from Eder Maestre’s side, who found Courtney Brosnan in fine form.
With an unchanged XI from the side that bested Aston Villa last week, the visitors
began brightly as they searched for back-to-back WSL wins for the first time this season and had the first real chance of the game through the lively Gabarro, who volleyed over after good work from Ornella Vignola.
The hosts responded and struck the post 22 minutes through Grace Geyoro, who met Kosovare Asllani’s dangerous centre with a deft flick that Brosnan was relieved to see come back off the woodwork.
The France international then turned provider eight minutes later when her through ball found Jana Fernandez, but her arrowed strike whistled inches wide of the goal.
Turning up the pressure, Isobel Goodwin was the next to test Brosnan six minutes later, but saw her header produce a brilliant reactionary from the Toffees’ skipper, who tipped the goal-bound effort over the crossbar.
With Phelan getting his team in at the break on level terms thanks largely to his keeper, Everton emerged in the second 45 on the front foot and had the first chance of the half through Gabarro, who looked the most likely to open the scoring for the Blues.
Cutting inside on her favoured foot, the 23-year-old let fly with a venomous strike that was clawed away by Elene Lete.
But the Spanish stopper couldn’t thwart her compatriot on 61 minutes, as Everton’s No.10 collected Momiki’s insightful pass before smashing home and running straight to the away fans to celebrate.
With quarter of an hour remianing, Phelan gave Zara Kramzar her first minutes since making the switch from Italian giants AS Roma, becoming the first Slovenian to play in the WSL in the process.
And the 20-year-old was on hand to help her new teammates see out the remainder of the game to give the new boss a winning start, and only the Toffees’ second clean sheet in the WSL this season.
Everton Women have the chance to make it three wins from three next week as West Ham travel to Goodison Park on Sunday 15 February at 12pm GMT (7am ET, 4am PT).
Tickets for the clash can be purchased here.
