Ladies Crowned Spring Series ChampionsGoals from Green, Hinnigan and Walker double seal 4-0 win at London Bees.The call from boss Andy Spence before the match was for his Everton Ladies side to show they are winners. It was heard loud and clear as the Blue Girls were crowned WSL2 Spring Series champions with a comfortable 4-0 victory at London Bees.
Needing only a point to be guaranteed of the title, the Toffees were full value for all three with an assured display.
Having been frustrated in their search for an early opener, Mollie Green put the visitors in front on 28 minutes when her deflected shot from the edge of the area crept into the net.
Michelle Hinnigan doubled the advantage six minutes later, heading home Danielle Turner’s sumptuous left-wing cross.
It was 3-0 on 70 minutes when substitute Claudia Walker blasted home from the spot. And a title-winning display was wrapped up in fine style with seconds left as Walker blasted a piledriver past keeper Sophie Harris.
The visitors put the pressure on from the first whistle, with Faye Bryson and Simone Magill linking up down the right to carve out half-chances which lacked only a final ball.
It was the Bees who went closest to taking an early lead, though. When Sophie Fogarty was fouled, Emma Beckett’s inswinging free-kick from the left evaded everyone in the box but, to the relief of the visitors, cannoned back of the crossbar.
But that was as good as it got for London in the opening half as the Blue Girls cranked up the pressure.
On 16 minutes, Bryson jinked her way past Fogarty and down the right byline only to see her low cross into the box blocked.
Moments later, Aileen Whelan – making her first start for the Club since joining from Notts County last month – was sent clean through but saw her finish blocked by the legs of Bees keeper Harris.
Magill was the next to go close, seeing her close-range finish blocked out by some desperate Bees defending.
But having dominated, it took a stroke of luck to see Everton ahead. Picking up the ball 20 yards out, Green had time to look at her options before driving a low shot which took a wicked deflection off a Bees defender and wrong-footed Green.
There was nothing fortunate about the visitors’ second, however. Turner found space down the left wing and whipped in a cross that saw an unmarked Hinnigan plant a pinpoint header into the bottom left-hand corner.
Everton never looked back from there. Hinnigan went close to a second on the stroke of half-time, Harris once again coming to the Bees’ rescue by keeping out the skipper’s low drive from eight yards.
And there was no let-up after the interval as Kelly Jones fired two efforts over the bar, before another dangerous cross from the lively Turner was volleyed inches wide by Bryson at the far post.
Spence made changes to his side leading up to the hour mark when Vicky Jones replaced Bryson, before Walker came on for Green.
Walker didn’t take long to make an impression. With 70 minutes on the clock, she was bundled over in the penalty area and picked herself up to squeeze her spot-kick past Harris, who got a touch but could not keep the ball from hitting the back of the net.
And the best was saved until last when, with seconds left, Walker blasted home from 25 yards to seal the title in style.
It was the final chapter of a Spring Series season which sees Everton crowned champions and gives them a huge boost for when the full WSL campaign gets going in September.
Everton FC
