Sunderland Ladies’ rustiness again showed as sleek Everton cruised to a 4–0 victory on Merseyside on Sunday. Injury robbed the Wearsiders
of Lucy Bronze and Lucy Staniforth while skipper Steph Bannon was suspended.
The visitors were under pressure from the off and Everton took the lead in the 11th min from a disputed penalty as Natasha Dowie scored. Two further efforts went wide before Kelly McDougall surged goalward only to be denied by a brilliant tackle from Whelan.
Everton pushed forward again as Hinnigan came close but they were not to be denied as they extended their lead after 25 mins. Following desperate defending the ball was scrambled away to Emily Westwood who from 25 yds looped a shot over the despairing Rachael Laws.
Two minutes later it was all but over as Jill Scott’s powerful run resulted in an absolute scorcher from 30 yds. Sunderland tried to get back into the game but following their best run of play the home side broke quickly to score a fourth on 31 mins as Hinnigan drove into the bottom corner with Sunderland stretched.
HT...Everton Ladies 4 vs 0 Sunderland Ladies
Early in the second half Sunderland keeper Laws was hurt following a collision and was replaced by Helen Alderson
returning from injury after 10 months out. The Wearsiders showed more composure and were making a game of it as Jordan Nobbs twice
came close and Natalie Gutteridge caused a few problems. The pace of Demi Stokes created chances for McDougall and Sarah Danby but
there was no way back for Sunderland.
FT...Everton Ladies 4 vs 0 Sunderland Ladies
Sunderland...Laws
(Alderson), Holmes(Christon), Greenwell, Wilson(Round), Devine, Nobbs, McDougall, Salicki, Stokes, Danby, Gutteridge