Aston Villa 1 Everton 2: Everton Ladies make winning start

Aston Villa 1 Everton 2: Everton Ladies make winning start to FA Women’s Super League Two campaign

Andy Spence's side victorious in WSL 2 opener at Villa



A debut goal for Aston Villa Ladies’ Abi Cottam wasn’t enough to prevent Everton Ladies from starting life off in FA Women’s Super League Two with a victory.

The Blues finished bottom of FA WSL 1 last term without a win to their name but got off to a fast start in their new division as Elisha N’Dow turned the ball into her own net after 15 minutes.

And on the hour mark Danielle Turner doubled Everton’s tally following a marauding run, meaning Abi Cottam’s late goal for Aston Villa on her debut was nothing more than consolation.

Villa began brightly and were only denied an early lead by a goal-line clearance, after Maddy Cusack met a corner with her head after three minutes.

Everton soon settled, but there was more than a hint of good fortune about their 15th minute opener. Jade Richards looked to clear a free-kick from deep, but saw her header ricochet off team-mate N’Dow and into the back of the net.

The freak own goal seemed to knock Villa out of their stride, and Andy Spence’s side dominated the remainder of the first half, with skipper Michelle Hinnigan missing an excellent chance to double the Blues’ lead shortly before the interval.

Villa improved after the restart, but soon found themselves two goal behind, Turner driving the ball beyond Leach from close range.

Substitute Cottam pulled the hosts back into the game two minutes from time, but Everton held on to get their campaign off to winning start.

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Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Leach; N’Dow (Crackle 71), Richards, Owen, H. George; Cusack (Welsh, 65), McCue (c); Ferguson (Cottam 59), Robinson, Mayling; Wilkinson. Subs not used: Moran, Merrick, Myers.

Bookings: N’Dow (63), McCue (89)

Everton (3-5-2): Levell; Lea (Johnson 54), Stewart, G. George; V. Jones, K. Jones, Williams, Hinnigan (c) (Turner 82), Turner; Whipp, Walker (King 64). Subs not used: Walsh, Alexander, Young, Benson.

Att: 330

Referee: Philip Hardisty