Report: Everton Women 4-0 Bristol City Women.

What happened? 

It was the Robins' first game under new boss Matt Beard who has taken charge of City Women until the end of the season with Tanya Oxtoby currently on maternity leave.

The home side took an early lead with the first chance of the game through Izzy Christiansen.

Nicoline Sørensen’s low cross from the left-hand side found Christiansen’s deep run into the box, and the English midfielder made no mistake as she swept the ball into the top corner.  

Christiansen came close to her second when she made another surging run into the box to meet a cross from the left, but Benedicte Håland was quick to react and made a terrific stop to deny the midfielder.

The host’s doubled their lead with half-time approaching through Simone Magill.

Hayley Raso’s fierce cross into the box was too hot for Håland to handle, and the loose ball fell to the feet of Magill who was on hand to tap in from close range.

Beard made a triple sub at half-time for the Robins as Laura Rafferty, Emma Bissell and Aimee Palmer making way for Ella Mastrantonio, Abi Harrison and Jas Matthews, the latter making a return to the squad after a month out. 

Harrison was involved straight away for City when she was in the right position to make a vital block on the line to deny Everton extending their lead.

Christiansen got her second and Everton’s third of the afternoon after some high intensity pressing from the Toffees.

The home side won possession on the edge of the City box through Lucy Graham and the ex-Robins midfielder played Christiansen through who found the top corner.

Christiansen then turned provider for Everton to help her side extend their lead to four goals.

The striker’s in-swinging corner was met at the near post by Megan Finnigan whose glancing header flew past Håland and into the bottom corner.

Ebony Salmon had a good chance to pull a goal back for City when she was played in by Harrison, however Salmon’s effort was comfortably dealt with by Sandy Maclver.

City had the ball in the back of the net when Charlie Wellings headed in at the far post from Gemma Evans’ header, however the latter was judged offsides in the build-up and a free-kick was awarded to the hosts.

Despite the Robins' best efforts, they were unable to pull a goal back as the full-time whistle went.

Teams:

Bristol City Women: Håland, Bryson, Evans, Rafferty (Matthews, 46), Logarzo, Salmon, Daniels, Wellings, Allen, Palmer (Mastrantonio, 46), Bissell (Harrison, 46).

Substitutes: Smith, Jones, Collis, Layzell.

Everton Women: Maclver, Moe Wold, Turner (Pike, 74), Christiansen (Clinton, 74), Magill (Boye-Hlorkah, 67), Stringer, Sørensen, Raso (Gauvin, 67), Graham (C), Finnigan, Clemaron (Sevecke, 67).

Substitutes: Korpela.

Reaction: Matt Beard

Written by Lewis Barton