Report: Everton Ladies 0-2 Reading WomenEverton Ladies suffer set-back in Widnes to title-chasing Reading
Everton's Paige Williams couldn't help her team avoid defeat
Everton Ladies were beaten by title challengers Reading Women in their penultimate league game of the season after a goal in each half secured the three points for the visitors.
Nicola Anderson’s side were unfortunate to not pick up a point after they created plenty of chances in the game, but the away side were more clinical in front of goal.
The opening twenty minutes of the game were entertaining with plenty of chances for both sides.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side in the opening two minutes.
Emily Hollinshead found herself in a lot of space on the right side and cut inside to have a shot on goal from outside the area, but it was comfortably saved by Grace Moloney.
Four minutes later the Blues keeper Kirstie Levell was called into action with Lois Roche shooting from a free-kick about 25-yards-out, but Levell comfortably caught the ball.
In the tenth minute Everton were awarded a free-kick after Reading captain Kirsty McGee handled the ball.
Paige Williams took the free-kick and forced Moloney into a great save. The left-backs effort looked to be heading into the bottom corner, but the Reading goalkeeper tipped the ball around the post.
Williams was a set-piece threat for the Blues
Reading then had a great chance to take the lead in the 13 minute. They hit Everton on the break and had four players racing forward with only two Everton defenders to beat, but they were unable to get a shot away quick enough.
Lauren Bruton eventually shot from outside the area, but it went well wide.
The visitors took the lead four minutes later after some well worked build-up play on the left side.
The ball found its way to Rachel Rowe on the edge of the box and she drove the ball low towards goal and the ball hit the post and went in.
Reading ended the half strongly and Levell was forced to make an outstanding save just before the half-hour mark after Roche, who had earlier tried her luck from a free-kick, sweetly struck the ball from 30-yards-out.
Her effort looked to be heading for the top corner until Levell produced an acrobatic save to prevent the away side from doubling their lead.
Just before the hour mark Everton captain Michelle Hinnigan tried her luck from range, but her shot sailed over the bar.
Skipper Michelle Hinnigan tried her luck
Two minutes later she had another effort, this time is was well saved by Moloney.
With just over 10 minutes to go Hinnigan nearly levelled the game with a volley from the edge of the area going agonisingly wide.
In the final few minutes Everton were pushing for an equaliser, but they were unable to break Reading down.
As the Blues piled of the pressure in injury time the away side doubled their lead on the break.
Helen Ward lobbed Levell despite a brilliant effort from Gabrielle George to prevent the ball from going over the line.
"We don't think it was a 0-2 game," Hinnigan
Skipper Michelle Hinnigan
Hinnigan believes the result doesn’t reflect the effort her side put in.
“We're all very disappointed with the result and we don't think it was a 2-0 game,” she said.
“We kept the ball really well and probably had the most possession but we didn't really commit ourselves in the final third of the pitch or create any clear chances.
“We need to be more clinical and put our chances away.
“The experience we have in the team means we're old enough to take this game on the chin, put it to bed and concentrate on finishing as high up the table as we can.
“We'll go into our last game against Oxford with a positive attitude and hopefully finish third.”
The Blues final game of the season is against Oxford United on Sunday, October 18 at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes at 2pm.
Everton Ladies starting line-up: Kirstie Levell, Danielle Turner, Paige Williams, Ellie Stewart, Lindsay Johnson, Michelle Hinnigan (captain), Simone Magill (69 Walker), Kelly Jones, Jess King, Gabrielle George, Emily Hollinshead (53 Boye-Hlorkah),
Subs: Megan Walsh, Vicky Jones, Channy Boye-Hlorkah (53 Hollinshead), Danielle Lea, Claudia Walker (69 Magill), Lauren Davies
Reading Women starting line-up: Grace Moloney, Rebecca Jane, Harriet Scott, Kirsty McGee (captain), Lauren Bruton (54 Fletcher), Lois Roche, Kylie Davies, Laura-May Walkley (66 Horwood), Helen Ward, Rachel Rowe, Nikki Watts
Subs: Molly Bartrip, Bonnie Horwood (66 Walkey), Bianca Bragg, Charlie Estcourt, Melissa Fletcher (54 Bruton), Nia Jones, Chloe Sansom
Attendance: 580
