Lucy Graham on target as Everton bounce back with…

Lucy Graham on target as Everton bounce back with hard-fought win over Aston Villa

Everton Women earned their third league win of the season on Saturday with a narrow 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the Women's Super League.

Captain Lucy Graham was on target in the second-half to secure a crucial three points in the West Midlands. The Blues fell to a disappointing defeat to current champions Chelsea last time out, but Brian Sorensen's side responded in perfect fashion at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

Everton enjoyed more possession in the first-half as they looked to break down a resilient Aston Villa defence. Their first chance came with just 13 minutes gone on the clock as some positive build-up play from Jess Park ended with Katrine Veje having a go from distance, but her shot was comfortably held by Anna Leat.

Minutes later, Karen Holmgaard won a free-kick for the visitors in a dangerous area. Hanna Bennison’s cross was then headed marginally wide by Graham as the Blues continued to pile on the pressure.

The hosts grew into the game as the first-half went on, Laura Blindkilde Brown had the opportunity to put Villa in front but her shot from close range went wide of the post. Rachel Daly and former Everton star Kenza Dali also had chances of their own, yet Everton held firm.

Villa may have started the second half the better side, but the visitors took their chance when it mattered most. Park did well to pick out Gabby George in the box, who sent a high ball across goal, which was fired home by Graham.

Park could have made it two shortly after but her drilled effort into the bottom corner was tipped away by Leat. A late flurry of chances were dealt with effectively by Everton as they did enough to keep the hosts at arms length and walk away with a much-needed victory.

Goalscorer Graham was pleased with the team's performance on the day and outlined how they looked to nullify Villa's attacking threat.

"I think in spells we're certainly happy," she said post-match. "We managed the game really well towards the end. They were good in transition, I think we could have done a little bit better with that.

"We kept them wide and nullified their crosses. Courtney (Brosnan) dealt really well with them when they came in. We knew Villa's strengths, they like to play through the middle and we're familiar with their players obviously having a few of them last season.

"I think in phases we could have done a little bit better, the game became a little bit transitional in stages but that's football, it's never going to be perfect."

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