Everton 3-0 West Ham United
Barclays Women's Super League, Walton Hall Farm, Sunday 22 January 2023
West Ham United Women were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Everton at Walton Hall Park on Sunday afternoon.
Two goals from successive corners inside the opening 12 minutes put Brian Sørensen’s side in a commanding position, before Aggie Beever-Jones scored from distance in the second half to make sure the points remained on Merseyside.
The Irons went close with efforts from Kate Longhurst and Viviane Asseyi but were largely disappointing in front of goal.
Paul Konchesky welcomed back Abbey-Leigh Stringer to the starting XI, whilst skipper Dagny Brynjarsdottir also returned, with Mel Filis and Izzy Atkinson dropping to the bench.
The Hammers fell behind almost immediately in the freezing temperatures at Walton Hall Park, with Karen Holmsgaard heading in from a corner after only three minutes had been played.
Moments later, and left-back Gabby George had an opportunity to put the home side two goals ahead, but Longhurst did enough to put the pressure on.
The Hammers were struggling to get a foothold in the game, though, and Everton looked dangerous with every foray forward. George had another chance with eight minutes gone, but her shot was charged down by Grace Fisk.
The pressure from the home side ultimately rewarded them with a second goal. An in-swinging corner found the head of unmarked defender Megan Finnigan, who found the net with the aid of the post.
Konchesky’s team had barely troubled the Toffees backline, although Honoka Hayashi was afforded space on the edge of the area, but her shot did not trouble former Hammer Emily Ramsey.
The Irons did belatedly settle into a good rhythm, passing the ball within the Everton half, but they lacked that clinical edge that they would have wanted as they tried to get back into the contest.
The first half flashed beyond the Hammers overall, with them failing to create anything clear cut.
The second half was barely minutes old when Longhurst had a wonderful opportunity to pull one back. The midfielder arrived late at the back post and made good contact with the strike, but she couldn’t direct the ball goal wards.
And whilst they had a lot more of the ball, and putting more pressure on the Everton backline, they were still struggling to test Ramsey in the Everton goal.
The Toffees made changes, introducing England U19 international Beever-Jones who made an impact eight minutes after coming off the bench. After a second run from Hanna Bennison opened up the space for the 19-year-old, she let fly with a venomous shot that Mackenize Arnold had no chance of stopping.
Viviane Asseyi had been well marshalled by a stubborn backline, but she did have a big chance towards the end of the game to score what would only be a consolation. After initially being denied by Ramsey, Asseyi scooped the ball towards goal, only for it to be cleared off the line by a covering defender.
The Hammers just could find a way onto the scoresheet and will be hoping to fare much better on their next visit to Merseyside, which comes on Wednesday 25 January, when they take on Liverpool at Prenton Park in the Continental Tyres League Cup.
Everton: Ramsey, Sevecke (S.Holmagaard 83), George, Wheeler (Galli 62), Bennison, Park (Stenevik 83), Sorensen (Christiansen 74), Hope ©, Finnigan, Snoeijs (Beever-Jones 62), K.Holmgaard
Subs not used: Brosnan, Bjorn, Maier
Goals: K. Holmsgaard 3, Finnigan 12, Beever-Jones 70
West Ham United: Arnold, Shimizu, Fisk, Cissoko, Smith, Hayashi (Houssein 79), Stringer (Parker 74), Brynjarsdottir © (Atkinson 79), Longhurst (Flannery 79), Evans (Filis 66), Asseyi
Subs not used: Hillyerd (GK), Cairns
Referee: Tom Nield
