Oxford 0-1 Everton Ladies

Oxford 0-1 Everton Ladies
Hollinshead 77'

Blues keep pressure on Yeovil and Bristol as their push for promotion continues.

FA WSL 2 match
14:00, Sunday 24 July 2016
Abingdon United FC


Everton kept up their pursuit of second-placed Bristol with a hard-fought victory over Oxford United at Northcourt Road.

Substitute Emily Hollinshead grabbed the only goal of the game, bundling the ball in just three minutes after coming on, condemning Oxford to a fourth straight loss.

It could have been two but for a goal-line clearance by Jess Frampton with five minutes remaining, which typified the U’s fighting spirit.

If Everton were confident after their defeat of Yeovil, Oxford were hurting after a winless five games, and as such it was a blood-and-thunder first half with a number of strong challenges.

Chloe Kelly came close for the visitors after 20 minutes, but her shot on the turn narrowly cleared the bar.

A few minutes later some superb link play down the right ended with Kelly, but again her effort sailed high, while Ellie Noble thundered a free-kick off the bar to give the home side some impetus.

Everton’s Claudia Walker then went close with two efforts: the first a powerful side-footed effort which was well held by Demi Lambourne, then forcing the U’s keeper into a superb diving save to her right.

But the visitors did get the eventual breakthrough, with Hollinshead’s back-post scramble from point-blank range earning Everton all three points.