Despite an improved second half display, Everton Ladies succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Bristol City on their return to WSL 1 football.
The trip to the Stoke Gifford stadium represented the Blue Girls’ first fixture of 2018 and saw them back in action after the festive break.
But they were beaten by a Lauren Hemp brace as the City forward scored in either half to earn her side, despite Courtney Sweetman-Kirk’s goal capping a second half fightback from the Toffees.
Everton struggled to get going in the early stages and found themselves a goal down after just 10 minutes. Yana Daniels found space down the left, beat Chaney Boye-Hlorkah-Hlorkah and picked out Lauren Hemp, who drilled the ball beyond Lizzie Durack and into the top corner.
The Blue Girls tried to lift themselves but Hemp fired wide and Daniels then clipped the crossbar with a deceptive corner as the hosts remained in control.
Everton almost snatched an equaliser on the half hour, Sweetman-Kirk sliding in and stabbing a loose ball against the post.
But in truth it was a half way below the standards Andy Spence’s side had set themselves throughout the season.
A slow start to the second half saw City - and in particular Hemp - almost extend the Vixens’ lead. First, she was picked out with a quickly taken corner but with a clear shot at goal, Hemp steered it over the bar.
Millie Turner then headed wide from an inswinging free-kick, before Hemp capitalised on a mistake from Boye-Hlorkah but could only shoot at Durack.
But on 64 minutes, City’s pressure told. After Boye-Hlorkah conceded a penalty, up stepped Hemp to double her tally for the night.
In response, Head Coach Spence introduced Mollie Green and Simone Magill and switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Megan Finnigan dropping from midfield into the back three.
It paid dividends. When Chloe Kelly won a corner, a goalmouth scramble ended with Sweetman-Kirk stabbing home from close range to reduce the arrears.
Minutes later, the Toffees thought they had levelled, Kelly slipping a pass behind the City defence for Sweetman-Kirk to guide past Sophie Baggaley, only for the linesman’s flag to mute her celebrations.
It seemed to know the stuffing out of Everton, with Bristol ending the game in the ascendancy, without truly looking likely to extend their lead.
Frustration for Everton, who must now wait 22 days before returning to action against Chelsea on 22 January.
