
Aston Villa extended their unbeaten run in the Women’s Super League to five games with victory over Everton at Walton Hall Park.
A strike from Kenza Dali and an own goal from unfortunate Everton defender Megan Finnigan helped Villa close the gap on fourth-placed Arsenal.
In a tight game, Everton went close through Rikke Sedecke and Jess Park, but could not find a way through.
They remain in sixth with a game in hand on Villa.
Villa took an early lead when WSL top-scorer Rachel Daly turned provider. Her clever pass teed up Dali, whose shot took a slight deflection and kissed the post on its way past Courtney Brosnan.
Carla Ward’s side mostly held Everton at arm’s length and consolidated their lead when Mayumi Pacheco’s low cross was inadvertently turned in by Finnigan.
With the Toffees having only scored 16 goals this season, Villa saw out the game with relative ease and Daly was inches from a third when heading over in the dying seconds.
Line-ups
Everton Women
Formation 3-4-3
- 18Brosnan
- 20FinniganSubstituted forChristiansenat 85′minutes
- 28HolmgaardSubstituted forStenevikat 77′minutes
- 4Sevecke
- 17HopeBooked at 90mins
- 7WheelerSubstituted forGalliat 76′minutes
- 5Björn
- 6George
- 15Beever-Jones
- 25SnoeijsSubstituted forSørensenat 72′minutes
- 11Park
Substitutes
- 2Veje
- 8Christiansen
- 14Sørensen
- 21Maier
- 22Galli
- 27Stenevik
- 30Cumings
- 39Clarke
Aston Villa Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Hampton
- 2Mayling
- 14Turner
- 6Corsie
- 33Pacheco
- 10Dali
- 12Staniforth
- 88NobbsSubstituted forLittlejohnat 77′minutes
- 7LehmannBooked at 77minsSubstituted forBlindkildeat 77′minutes
- 8DalySubstituted forGielnikat 90+3′minutes
- 20HansonBooked at 79mins
Substitutes
- 9Gielnik
- 15Patten
- 18Gregory
- 19Blindkilde
- 28Rabjohn
- 31Littlejohn
Live Text
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Match ends, Everton Women 0, Aston Villa Women 2.
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Second Half ends, Everton Women 0, Aston Villa Women 2.
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Foul by Gabrielle George (Everton Women).
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Emily Gielnik (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Emily Gielnik replaces Rachel Daly.
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Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross.
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Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Elise Stenevik.
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Attempt missed. Kenza Dali (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Laura Blindkilde.
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Lucy Hope (Everton Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Lucy Hope (Everton Women).
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Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Gabrielle George (Everton Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Laura Blindkilde (Aston Villa Women).
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Foul by Jessica Park (Everton Women).
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Kenza Dali (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Everton Women. Izzy Christiansen replaces Megan Finnigan.
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Agnes Beever-Jones (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women).
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women).