Hanna Bennison’s free-kick deflected into the online off the goalkeeper Kirstie Levell to provide Everton a 1-0 victory over Leicester in added time of the Ladies’s Tremendous League contest at Walton Corridor Park.
Levell’s late intervention from the Swedish substitute’s supply determined a cagey contest in entrance of a sold-out crowd and left the guests nonetheless searching for their first level of the season.
Neither facet was in a position to create any actual possibilities within the opening exchanges as Leicester’s again line responded effectively to the hosts’ excessive press.
The Foxes had their first alternative when Molly Pike appeared to chip Emily Ramsey however her effort as an alternative landed within the palms of the Toffees keeper. Everton’s first likelihood got here halfway by means of the second half when Nathalie Björn slipped the ball to Katja Snoeijs however her effort was effectively blocked by Levell.
Izzy Christiansen then tried to pick Snoeijs however the Dutch worldwide was not there to complete, which meant Christiansen may solely watch her cross sail throughout the face of purpose. Everton’s Lucy Graham, in the meantime, may solely muster a half-chance from the sting of the world, pivoting earlier than firing large from her less-favoured left foot as Leicester fended off a sustained interval of stress.
On the different finish, Megan Finnigan simply cleared a Jemma Purfield supply into the field to ship the edges goalless into the break.
An opportunity on the restart noticed an effort from Leicsester’s Josie Inexperienced blocked, and Everton survived a scare when Ramsey, on her aggressive debut for the membership, collided with Sam Tierney however was in a position to proceed after receiving consideration.
The guests received a free-kick and Purfield aimed straight at purpose however noticed her effort parried away by Ramsey. Gabby George then tried to get issues going for the hosts, whose low effort from a good angle was stopped by Levell.
Substitutes for each side missed alternatives in fast succession, with Natasha Flint unable to attach with a cross to go in for Leicester earlier than the Everton debutant Karen Holmgaard fired a pointy try at Ramsey.
Bennison almost broke the impasse on 69 minutes, deftly dodging her marker earlier than curling an effort large of the proper publish. It was the start of a interval of stress from Everton, with Gio Queiroz driving down the proper and into the world however failing to get a great angle on her low, right-footed effort.
With few possibilities for both facet because the match drew to an in depth, Everton floated in a nook however Levell received a glove on it and batted away any likelihood of an opener. Lastly, although, because the clock ticked into the fourth minute of stoppage time, Bennison broke the impasse with an inswinging free-kick that discovered the highest nook through the unlucky Levell.
