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Post by Everton News. on Dec 15, 2018 13:05:06 GMT
 Everton Ladies assistant manager Chris Roberts believes there is plenty at stake for the Blue Girls in Sunday’s Continental Tyres Cup derby clash against Liverpool Ladies (midday kick-off). Everton cannot finish in the top two of Group Two North to reach the last eight of the competition following Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United Women at Southport's Merseyrail Community Stadium. Despite that setback, Roberts knows this weekend’s game at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park represents the ideal chance for the Blues to bounce back against their Merseyside rivals. Having joined the Club at the start of December, Roberts and boss Willie Kirk have already tasted the sweet success of a derby victory, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Women’s Super League in their first match in charge on 2 December. And Roberts says more joy against Liverpool will be the ideal way for Everton to build momentum going into the Christmas break. “First and foremost, the game is an opportunity for us to bounce back from a defeat,” he said. “Winning’s a habit and we want to have that momentum going into the Christmas break. No-one in the dressing room needs telling what this game means to everyone at the Club and how much it means to everyone who comes to watch us. “We can’t qualify for the next stage of the Continental Cup but it’s a massive game because it’s a derby and it means everything.” Everton paid the price for a below-par first-half display against United on Thursday, conceding three goals to the Championship club before the break. To their credit, the Blue Girls came out fighting in the second half and were unlucky not to find the back of the net after a turnaround in their play. “The first half was so far off the standards that the girls have set since we’ve been here and we allowed ourselves to be dictated to so that did the damage,” added Roberts. “We showed a lot more of what we are about in the second half but we can do a lot better than that. We made basic errors and the girls are so much better than they showed. “I felt the girls improved in the second half. We shifted the momentum and created more chances and looked a lot more dangerous but we just didn’t get that goal.” Everton FC |
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Post by Everton News. on Dec 17, 2018 20:24:35 GMT
 Everton Ladies striker Elise Hughes admits she “couldn’t have written it any better” after scoring her first senior goal in Sunday’s Merseyside derby. The staunch Evertonian has come through the ranks at the Toffees, making her debut away at Arsenal last season, but was handed her maiden start for the Club against Liverpool in the Continental Cup. And she marked the occasion with a close-range finish - after seeing her initial header come back off the post – to help the Blue Girls earn their second win over their city rivals in a fortnight. Chaney Boye-Hlorkah opened the scoring at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park before Simone Magill lashed in a volley to double Everton’s lead. Although Niamh Fahey pulled one back, Hughes wrapped up victory in a blistering performance from the Toffees. “I couldn’t write it any better,” said the 17-year-old. “To get my first start for my Club in a Merseyside derby was more than enough. “But everyone was backing me to score and when I did, it was unbelievable. I couldn’t even get myself together because as soon as it went in, the girls were straight on me. “It was the best feeling I have ever had on a football pitch. To get my first senior goal for Everton, as a girlhood blue, it is just amazing.” That was Everton’s second win in four games under the stewardship of new boss Willie Kirk, who took over the reins earlier this month, and was the perfect way to end a difficult 2018. For Hughes, the new year is an opportunity to build on her first start and push as hard as she can to secure a place in Kirk’s starting line-up. “I will easily remember that goal for the rest of my life,” she added. “But I am hoping that is the first of many for Everton. I am in my fifth year at this club and you can’t beat the feeling of scoring. “I just want to carry on doing what I’m doing for as long as I can. “Willie has put in a lot of trust in me. He has shown that by giving me a start in what was a massive game. It doesn’t matter that we were out of the cup anyway – it is a Merseyside derby and it is always important to get the win. “With the new manager, it feels like if you are good enough, you are old enough. Both Willie and assistant Chris Roberts are here to improve the team and to improve us as individuals. I’m really happy with where I am and the progress I have made.” Everton FC |
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