A first half brace from Yuka Momiki and goals from Ornella Vignola, Toni Payne and Issy Hobson ensured Everton Women’s safe passage into the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup as Brian Sorensen’s side demolished West Bromwich Albion.
Always on the front foot, the WSL visitors were ahead as early as the ninth minute through Momiki, who gave her side breathing room 25 minutes later with a stunning strike from the edge of the area.
Any thoughts of a Baggies revival were quickly vanquished thanks to a four-minute
blitz from the Blues, who plundered another three goals after the break to cap off a satisfying night’s work for the Toffees.
One sour point will be the early exit of Karen Holmgaard, who left the field of play after only four minutes with what looks like a knee injury.
With five changes from the weekend, Aurora Galli was trusted with the captain’s armband after playing her first minutes since May against Manchester City on Sunday.
Emily Ramsey was trusted in between the sticks, while Hobson made up a backline that included Maz Pacheco, Martina Fernandez, Ruby Mace.
Rosa van Gool, Holmgaard joined Galli in midfield, with a front three of Payne, Momiki and Vignola.
The night didn’t begin too well for Everton, who were forced in to an early change with only four minutes on the clock as Holmgaard was replaced by Clare Wheeler, the former going down after being pushed inside the Albion area, with no penalty given.
Momiki lifted the spirits four minutes later though, latching on to Payne’s deft touch to fire the visitors in front.
Pacheco almost made it two when her looping cross sailed over the head of Charlotte Clarke and rebounded off the upright before being gathered by the shot stopper.
The keeper was to have no such luck on 34 minutes, when Momiki drove towards goal and unleashed a superb strike in the top right corner.
Payne almost made it three in added time when she rounded Clarke only for her effort to evade the goal from a tight angle. Sorensen won’t have been too disappointed however, as the Blues more than justified their half-time lead.
With Galli still short of match fitness, Melissa Lawley replaced her at the break but the Toffees picked up where they had left off with three quick-fire goals during a frantic first ten minutes of the second half.
Vignola kept her composure with a fine finish in the top corner after capitalising on a loose ball inside the Albion area.
Three minutes later Lawley found Payne, who made no mistake from point-blank range.
The most enthusiastic celebration was to come seconds later, when the impressive Pacheco made it to the touchline before digging out a cross that was met on the half-volley by Hobson, and the lifelong Blue wheeled away in celebration as all eyes now turn to Monday night’s fifth-round draw, which takes place at 7pm.
Attention will then turn back to all matters WSL for Sorensen, who will be desperate to get his first league win at Goodison Park this season, with Brighton & Hove Albion next up on Friday, 23 January at 7pm GMT (2pm ET, 11am PT).
