A Yuka Momiki strike in added time ensured Everton Women left the capital with three points as a strong team performance propelled the Blues to fifth in the WSL table.
The second-half substitute sent a probing centre in from the right channel which sailed past Constance Picaud-Inconnu via the head of defender Laia Codina to send the travelling Toffees into raptures and secure a second win from the opening three league games.
While there was a certain degree of fortuity about the strike, and some may
dispute Momiki as the scorer, it certainly doesn’t detract from the fact that Scott Phelan is instilling a mentality that will grind out results built on solid foundations and team togetherness.
Rosa van Gool and Clare Wheeler were the only two changes to come into the starting XI from last week’s win at home to Charlton Athletic, with Honoka Hayashi and Zara Kramzar dropping to the bench.
Everton looked lively and were the first to threaten through Ornella Vignola within the first five minutes, the Spaniard nicked the ball away from Picaud-Inconnu before picking out van Gool with the keeper stranded, but the midfielder fired wide following strong pressure from the Hammers’ rearguard.
The hosts’ keeper was having a difficult day and was nearly caught out by Holly McNamara’s attempted lob ten minutes later, but her audacious attempt landed harmlessly on the roof of the net.
Viviane Asseyi threatened on the half-hour mark after evading the offside trap, only to be thwarted by Hannah Blundell’s recovery tackle, but it was the visitors who had the better of the first half.
And Phelan’s side very nearly made it count four minutes before the interval; Ruby Mace found Hannah Cain, whose deep cross was met by Hannah Silcock, who headed narrowly off-target with Picaud-Inconnu beaten.
However the final chance of the half belonged to West Ham and former Everton Toffee Kelly Gago, who raced clear and found herself one-on-one with Courtney Brosnan, but the Toffees’ skipper ensured that honours remained even and saved the French international’s low shot.
The Blues started the second half as they had spent most of the first and continued to torment Picaud-Inconnu. First Hikaru Kitagawa’s corner saw the stopper having to punch ball over her own crossbar, before the Japan defender again nearly broke the deadlock when she met Hannah Cain’s brilliant cross, but the French keeper did well to hold the right-footed effort.
At the other end Brosnan had to be alert moments later to hold onto a Riko Ueki header, but chances were largely at a premium for the final 20 minutes which led Phelan to utilise his bench with Momiki and Kramzar replacing McNamara and van Gool respectively.
The decision proved inspired when Momiki stood over a free kick and curled her dangerous effort goalwards. And with a deflection from Codina, the ball sailed past Picaud-Inconnu and into the net.
There’s an old saying that you make your own luck and that is one Phelan will certainly be feeling after today. While the winner certainly had its elements of fortuity, there is no denying that Momiki’s winner was a deserved reward for a job well done as Everton Women have secured a first home and away win within the first three games.
Next up for the Blues is the Subway Players Cup when they will welcome Birmingham City to Goodison Park on Wednesday, 23 September, as the Toffees begin what will hopefully be a better run in the League Cup than in previous seasons.
