Everton Ladies 1-0 Birmingham

Everton Ladies made it two straight wins in the Continental Tyres Cup with an impressive 1-0 victory over Birmingham City Ladies at the Select Security Stadium.

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk's 12th-minute goal proved enough as the Blue Girls followed up last month's 3-0 success at Doncaster Rovers Belles in the competition.

Before the game, Everton Ladies manager Andy Spence called on his side to earn an "elusive" success over a fellow WSL 1 side for the first time this season. And they duly delivered with a battling performance.

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides with constant pressure put on the Birmingham backline from the off. The first chance came from excellent sharp-thinking by Siri Worm, who took a quick free kick to catch out the Birmingham defence. She found Simone Magill, but the resulting shot hit the side netting from a tight angle.

Everton continued their good start as Chloe Kelly found herself in some room 20 yards out, but her shot was caught by Birmingham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

The breakthrough came four minutes later after excellent pressure from the Everton forwards and, when the ball fell nicely to Sweetman-Kirk, she was able to loop it over the onrushing keeper and into the net.

After the goal, Birmingham started to get back into the game with some good work of their own, Lucy Quinn providing some fine crosses but each time the Everton defence dealt well with them. For the Blue Girls, Dan Turner was continually causing problems for Birmingham’s right side, and towards the end of the half, good work from goalscorer Sweetman-Kirk gave the ball to her captain, but her shot went over.

After the teams emerged for the second half, it was Everton who were quick out of the blocks once again. Within seconds of the restart Meg Finnigan intercepted a pass in midfield, dropped it to Chloe Kelly who threaded it through to Sweetman-Kirk but her shot was saved.

Soon after, Sweetman-Kirk came close to her and Everton’s second after a great cross from Turner, only for her shot to be well stopped by Berger.

A flurry of substitutions from both sides followed before Finnigan provided an outstanding through-ball to the ever-impressive Turner but she couldn’t keep her shot on target as it flew past the post.

Into the final 20 minutes and Birmingham started to apply their own pressure, controlling the play through the midfield but defenders Georgia Brougham and Gabby George were able to deal with what the visitors threw at them.

As the Blue Girls went in search of a crucial second, they came close as the game went into additional time when a two-on-two breakaway saw substitute Claudia Walker play in fellow substitute Faye Bryson who saw her shot saved by Berger.

Everton FC