Manchester United Women continued their impressive start to the Women’s Super League season with a 3-0 win at Everton. The result sees the Reds becoming only the second team in the history of the competition to win the first five opening games without conceding a goal.
Marc Skinner’s side arrived into this game off the back of the 2-2 draw with Durham in the league cup thanks to goals from Jade Moore and Vilde Boe Risa. Both players dropped down to the bench for the league fixture. Maria Thorisdottir retained her place at left-back as Ona Batlle remained out through concussion with Hannah Blundell operating at right-back. Hayley Ladd partnered captain Katie Zelem in the midfield. Nikita Parris started up top with Ella Toone, Leah Galton, and Lucia Garcia starting behind.
Dominating the Exchanges
United were first out of the traps as Ella Toone saw her effort on goal saved by Everton’s Courtney Brosnan who pushed the ball over the bar. We dominated the exchanges and were rewarded when Nikita Parris scored in the 13th minute to give us the lead. She latched on Leah Galton’s knockdown after Katie Zelem put a cross into the box.
Everton nearly restored parity as Gabrielle George made a driving run into the box but her near-post shot was ultimately saved by Mary Earps. After the half-hour mark, Earps was called upon again when Agnes Beever-Jones tried a shot from range but gathered up the ball to deny an equaliser. As the first half progressed, chances became few and far between as the weather began to play its part with increasing gusts of wind and rain.
Another Clean Sheet
Minutes into the second half, the Reds were on the attack again as Parris took the ball in the centre of the park and headed towards the goal before she played in Ella Toone on the left. Toone fired in her effort but the Everton defender deflected the ball behind.
Then Toone smartly flicked the ball into Garcia who helped it into the path of Galton. However, she was not successful with her effort on target. Galton would soon have her opportunity again as she went past four defenders to be in the opposition box and drove the ball into the corner of the net to give United a 2-0 lead.
Hayley Ladd would put the result beyond doubt with a superb strike. She received the ball on the edge of the opposition’s box before hitting it into the top corner of the goal to make it 3-0. Returning from her minor injury sustained before the international break, forward Alessia Russo was brought into the game in the 71st minute. She had a curling effort that went wide of the goal in the 85th minute.
Everton did pursue a consolation and nearly got a goal when Karen Holmgaard got in behind but Mary Earps made a close-range save to keep another clean sheet. United sit top of the Women’s Super League table having scored 14 times in five games without conceding once.