Everton Ladies’ Continental Cup adventure was brought to an end by Reading as the Royals edged a hard-fought quarter final on penalties at the Select Security Stadium.
After an end-to-end contest finished 0-0 in regular time, it looked like the Royals had struck the decisive blow in extra time when Kirsty Linnetts powered home from 25 yards.
But Chloe Kelly bundled in from close range with nine minutes left, a goal no less than the Blue Girls deserved.
So then to penalties, and it was Linnetts again who would prove Everton’s nemesis, netting the decisive spot-kick after Dan Turner and Chloe Kelly had earlier seen theirs saved by Grace Moloney.
Everton carved out the opening chance of the evening, as a quick counter attack saw Chloe Kelly pick out Courtney Sweetman-Kirk in the box, but the in-form striker could only steer her effort straight at Moloney.
At the other end, Rachel Furness saw a header from a corner fly off target.
It set the tone for a lively first half as both sides traded chances. Siri Worm saw a free-kick deflected, while Kirstie Levell produced a telling save to deny former Blue Girl Fara Williams.
Levell was at it again moments later, this time saving well from Jo Potter’s well-struck free-kick.
Reading thought they had the ball in the net on 28 minutes through Remi Allen but despite the ball seemingly crossing the line, play resumed and the Toffees could clear.
Moloney snuffed out a chance for Magill late in the half, after Angharad James picked her out, meaning it was goalless at the break.
The interval did nothing to halt the back-and-forth nature of the game – in the opening minutes both Moloney and Levell were called into action to deny Sweetman-Kirk and Lauren Bruton respectively.
As the half wore on, both sides began to show the effects of such a high tempo contest. So neither would have welcomed the extra 30 minutes added on after it ended 0-0 in regular time.
Yet it was the Royals who would finally break the deadlock. Substitute Linnetts took aim from 25 yards and found the back of the net.
Head Coach Andy Spence added fresh legs to the side in the form of Mollie Green – her first appearance back from injury – and Faye Bryson, and in the 21st of those added 30 minutes, Everton struck.
Seconds earlier, Gabby George had just missed turning home a Dan Turner cross before she picked up another centre from the captain, held off Moloney and set up Kelly to roll the ball into an empty net.
That meant this quarter final needed penalties to decide who would progress – and heartbreakingly for the Blue Girls, it was the Royals who held their nerve to reach the semi-finals.
