The delayed fourth round fixture at Walton Hall Park saw Everton beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0. Impressive goals by Kelly Gago and Heather Payne help the Blues secure their victory.
Both sides line up with their second-choice goalkeeper backing up their otherwise expected starting lineups. Despite Brian Sorenson’s expected return of midfielder Drew Spence, she is not in the squad, new signings Lize Kop and Josefine Rybrink are also missing due to being illegible for selection as they joined Spurs after the registration date for the original date of this fixture.
The home side are forced to make an early substitution as their captain, Megan Finnigan, goes down twice with injuries before being taken off and replace by Heather Payne in the ninth minute.
A fairly uneventful first half sees Everton hold the majority of possession and, after a saved second minute shot by Tottenham’s Matilda Vinberg, the home side also have notably more attempts on goal.
Including an early free kick delivered by Hayley Ladd to Emma Watson inside the box which is caught by the keeper and again, in the 35th minute, where a defensive error allows Kelly Gago to have a shot from close range- however it once again is denied by goalkeeper, Eleanor Heeps.
With one final impressive strike leaving Katja Snoeijs’ right foot from outside the box, caught in a leaping save by Heeps, the half time whistle sounds. Neither side have been able to find a goal, as we enter the break on a draw.
The second half begins with a swift goal for the Blues. Kelly Gago scored with her left foot, assisted nicely by Sara Holmgaard in the 47th minute.
A round of substitutes around the 60th minute sees Spurs bring off Hayley Raso and Martha Thomas, replacing them by Rosella Ayane and Lena Gunning-Williams. And similarly, Everton introduce Justine Vanhaevermaet, Clare Wheeler, and Toni Payne to the game replacing Katja Snoeijs, Karoline Olesen, and Emma Watson.
More substitutions in the 78th minute; with Tottenham bringing off Anna Csiki, Amanda Nilden, and Jessica Naz, and introducing Molly Bartrip, Ashleigh Neville, and Olivia Holdt. Everton bringing on Melissa Lawley to replace the goal scorer, Kelly Gago.
A great goal is scored from outside the box from Heather Payne’s right foot in the dying minutes of the game, assisted by Toni Payne after a scrappy display inside the six yard box.
With a final free kick won by Hayley Ladd, the game draws to a close with Everton winning 2-0.
Everton will progress into the fifth round of the FA cup, where they are already drawn to play Chelsea away on Sunday 9th February
Teams
Everton: Ramsey, Fernandez, Hayashi, Ladd, Hope, Watson (61’ T.Payne), Finnigan (9’ H.Payne), S.Holmgaard, Snoeijs (61’ Vanhaevermaet), Gago (78’ Lawley), Olesen (61’ Wheeler)
Tottenham Hotspur: Heeps, Grant, Buhler, Hunt, Nilden (78’ Neville), Csiki (78’ Bartrip), Ahtinen, Thomas (59’ Ayane), Raso (59’ Gunning-Williams), Vinberg, Naz (78’ Holdt)
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