Everton Women 0, Manchester City Women 3
Caroline Weir was Manchester City’s creator supreme as a makeshift Everton side folded in the first half of their FA WSL match at Walton Hall Park.
Embed from Getty ImagesShe set up goals for Ellen White, Gemma Bonner, and Janine Beckie, and as City notched a fourth win out of four while scoring three goals against the Toffees this year to rise to fourth place – within 5 points of league leaders Manchester United.
Both sides were under strength, with Everton missing half of their expected first team through injury including Valerie Gauvin and former City winger Claire Emslie.
City boss Gareth Taylor rotated his side with a Champions League game on Wednesday at Gothenburg in mind as part of the run of 5 games in 15 days for City.
Taylor was full of praise for City’s player of the match Caroline Weir who got over her disappointment over Scotland crashing out of Euro 2021 against Finland.
He said: “I said to her at half time she was class, especially with [the ball that set up] the goal for Janine [Beckie].
It wasn’t all good news for City though as USNWT midfielder Rose Lavelle had to be substituted at half time after suffering an injury and was seen on crutches afterwards.
Taylor was cautious about the injury to Lavelle, adding: “We will have to assess it, we’re a bit in the dark about it – hopefully it’s not too bad.”
City’s injury list is improving in other areas though, with Lauren Hemp, injured at the start of the season, got some game time in today as a second half substitute.
He said: “She’s worked tremendously hard, to not have had her in the team has been a big loss. We need to get the right minutes into her to get her up to speed.”
Three points today helped City’s quest to quality for next season’s Champions League though and City’s team eased to victory after a first half masterclass by Weir.
Just 1 minute and 40 seconds separated City’s first two goals as they stormed into a 2-0 lead after just 26 minutes.
Weir’s left wing cross found Ellen White who put a looping header past Sandy MacIver despite looking offside.
Everton were hit less than 2 minutes later when Weir’s corner was perfectly placed for Gemma Bonner to nod City into a 2-0 lead with Everton’s marking poor.
Janine Beckie almost got on the scoresheet herself the she ran clean through onto a ball from midfield but could only hit the side netting.
And Weir laid on the third City goal with another superb cross from the left which gave Beckie plenty of time to pick her spot and head home from 4 yards out in added time at the end of the first half.
Rose Lavelle injury sees her in crutches after the Everton win
Chloe Kelly replaced Rose Lavelle at the break after the USNWT midfielder picked up an injury to her right leg late in the first half.
Embed from Getty ImagesIzzy Christensen’s free kick was tipped away by Roebuck while Lucy Bronze and Beckie fashioned chances in the second half.
With City comfortable in the second half, Sam Mewis and Lauren Hemp were given a run out for Weir and Beckie.
Georgia Stanway came on as a final sub for City, replacing Ellen White, but she could not reach a cross by Hemp to extend the City lead while Chantelle Boye-Hlorkhah headed straight at Roebuck and Lucy Graham was denied a shooting chance by Lucy Bronze who came across to clear up the loose ball after a mistake by Houghton.
In the end, it was just what needed as they warmed up for their Champions League game in Gothenburg on Wednesday.
MATCH STATS – Everton Women 0, Manchester City Women 3
Everton Women: MacIver, Wold, Finnigan, Egurrola, Turner, Clemaron (Boye-Hlorkah 78), Stringer, Christiansen, Graham, Raso (Pike 78), Sorensen
Everton Women Subs not used: Korpela, Clinton, Pattinson
Booked: Raso 29 (colliding with Ellie Roebuck going in for a challenge), Clemaron, Sorensen
Man City Women: Roebuck, Bronze, Houghton, Bonner (Greenwood 65), Stokes, Walsh, Scott, Weir (Mewis 65), Beckie (Hemp 71), Lavelle (Kelly 46) , White (Stanway 76)
Man City Women Subs not used: Bardsley, Greenwood, Morgan, Park
Booked: Houghton 76 (Dissent)
Goals: White 25, Bonner 26, Beckie 45+2
Referee: Stacey Pearson