Scott Phelan felt his Everton Women’s side victory over Sheffield United was a ‘positive night overall’ as goals from Rosa van Gool and a second in two games from Noemie Mouchon ensured the Blues maintained their 100% start in this season’s Subway Players Cup.
Lucy Willis did cause a brief moment of panic when she pulled one back in injury time, but the Toffees held firm to secure the win and further strengthen their chances of qualification to the knockout stages.
And Phelan was happy in what he saw
his side do at Attis Arena, hinting that there were no immediate injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s WSL showdown at home to Manchester United.
“We wanted to keep the 100% record in the cup, that is something that we have been able to do,” he said.
“[We were] mindful of getting no injuries ahead of the weekend.
“So, a positive night overall.”
A much changed squad from last week’s defeat to Aston Villa saw Everton Academy graduates Zara Plano, Divine Obida and Amy Pracy named amongst the substitutes, with the latter two making appearances in the second half at the Scunthorpe-based stadium.
The starting XI saw Rylee Foster-Inman come in between the sticks behind a back four that saw only Hannah Siclock survive from the weekend as she was joined by club captain Megan Finnigan and Japanese duo Hikaru Kitagawa and Rion Ishikawa.
That defence was guarded by the trio of Clare Wheeler and Aurora Galli and van Gool, with the latter seemingly given the licence to roam further forward.
Hannah Cain and Jutta Rantala lined the wings as Mouchon lead the line in arguably her preferred role.
So often the victims of a slow start it was Everton who were the early aggressors, and the Blues were in front after only six minutes through van Gool.
The Dutch midfielder dispossessed Sophie Harwood deep inside the Blades’ half and kept her composure to stroke the ball in to the far right corner.
Seven minutes later and Mouchon netted her second in as many games after van Gool’s powerful low cross proved too much for Sophie Hillyerd, who could only palm in to the path of the French forward.
It was fast becoming the van Gool/Mouchon show as visitors continued to dominate Stephen Healy’s side. The latter nearly netting her second after van Gool delivered a cross from a similar spot that allowed Mouchon to claim her first, but the former Leicester City forward saw her powerful drive rattle the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
The Toffees continued to probe as the second half began but found themselves facing a more organised outfit who, despite showing little ambition at this stage, ensured their rearguard was much more solid than it had been in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
Sensing things needed freshening up, Phelan introduced Maz Pacheco, Yuka Momiki and Ornella Vignola in place Kitagawa, Wheeler and van Gool in the 68th minute – the latter going off to hearty applause from the head coach and teammates alike.
Cain was unlucky not to make it three moments later after she was found by the clever Galli, but the forward saw her arrowed effort go inches wide.
History would then be made as acadamey star Pracy was introduced on 77 minutes in place of Mouchon, but the final ten minutes would see the home side mount their first real offence of the game.
And Foster-Inman had to be alert to produce a smart stop in the 85th minute to deny Abbie Jones after the youngster breached the Blues’ backline to get her shot away. Phelan took action in the form of introducing Obida into the proceedings – the youngster replacing Ishikawa with three minutes of normal time remaining.
But Willis would get one back for the hosts in the 91st minute as the Blues conceded for the first time in the competition this season.
The young forward’s efforts proved only a consolation though, as the Toffees saw out the final few minutes and can now turn their attentions to the WSL and Eva Olid’s team, who visit Goodison Park this Saturday at 12.45pm GMT (7.45am ET, 4.45 PT).
Tickets for the Halloween clash with the Red Devils are available here.
