Play returns back to Walton Hall Park this afternoon, as Everton gear up to host Aston Villa in Saturday’s lone fixture in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Both sides have been seen to struggle throughout their 2023/24 league campaigns, and a victory in Merseyside would prove pivotal for either outfit on the occassion.

EVE: Brosnan; Finnigan, Galli, Stenevik, Wheeler, Piemonte, Vanhaevermaet, Bennison, Kühl, Hope, Snoeijs

AVL: Leat; Mayling, Patten, Turner, Maritz, Pacheco, Dali, Nobbs, Salmon, Leon, Salmon, Daly

All kicked off in Merseyside, as both sides looked to wrestle for a three point consolation on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts looked well organised in the press from the outset, superiorly testing what has proved to be a shaky last line for the Villans throughout their campaign thus far.

The first real opportunity of the afternoon came in the form of Hanna Bennison, as the Swedish midfielder took her strike from the edge of the 18-yard box. Despite the booming effort, a stretching Anna Leat caught the flyer with safe hands on the left side of her goalposts.

The first twenty minutes of play saw little to no action prosper in Merseyside, as neither side was able to create a meaningful opportunity in the final third. Rachel Daly played spectator as the clock ran down it’s opening minutes, the Aston Villa midfield unable to involve her with any service.

Rachel Daly was down receiving treatment in the final minutes of the opening term, as she came off second-best in a challenge through the field’s central area. Despite what was an extended spell with the medical team, the Aston Villa was deemed fit to continue.

The hosts searched for the advantage in the dying minutes of the first 45, as Martina Piemonte searched to find space inside of the area. Her shot-off was unsuccessful, as Daly controlled possession to clear the ball away from danger.

The stalemate remained as the whistle blew to signify the end of the first term in Merseyside, as neither side were able to break the deadlock.

Ebony Salmon searched to make immediate impact as proceedings were back underway at Walton Hall Park, as the English forward attempted to storm the area with conviction. Though Salmon failed to shake her markers, as her strike was blocked away with ease.

Everton worked well to link up in the field’s central areas, as Katja Snoeijs worked to drive possession into the final third. Ignoring a well-timed run into the channel from Piemonte, Snoeijs opted for a strike from distance that caused no issue for Leat between the goalposts.

The deadlock would be broken in the 54th minute of play, as Kenza Dali broke through the central area under almost no pressure. Combining to receive the ball back from Adrianna Leon, Dali’s strike from distance was brilliantly worked into the bottom left corner.

Courtney Brosnan was left livid between the posts, as the blue shirts failed to provide any heat on the French midfielder as she gave Aston Villa the advantage.

The first half suggested a stale afternoon in Merseyside, before Aston Villa turned the script on it’s head inside fifteen minutes. A brilliantly placed cross from Jordan Nobbs saw Salmon time her front post run to perfection, before heading home the second of the afternoon for the Villans.

The home side responded well to the deficit, as the Toffees began to gain momentous composure in possession. Everton received a free kick from an opportunistic position out wide, as Aurora Galli stepped up to the mark. Galli’s delivery was beautifully serviced, as Elise Stenevik sent Leat’s net rippling to halve Villa’s advantage.

After getting one back for her side, a terribly timed tackle from Stenevik saw her shown a second yellow card for the afternoon leading to her consequential disqualification in the dying moments. The red card will be sure to provide a huge blow for the Toffees heading into their next fixture, Stenevik proving integral to Brian Sørensen’s side this campaign.

Despite the late surge from the hosts, Aston Villa were able to protect their advantage as the final whistle blew in Merseyside. The victory in the North sees the Villans widen the gap between themselves and the Toffees out to five points, as Carla Ward’s side climbs to seventh position on the Barclays Women’s Super League table.