Everton capitalised on a clinical first half from Hayley Raso to fire themselves to the top of the WSL table.
Everton began the tie pressing high up the pitch, eager to maintain the momentum gained from their semi-final victory in the Women’s FA Cup against Birmingham on Wednesday.
In the early stages Aston Villa looked much more composed in defence than they have done in previous matches but struggled to find clear forward passes through the Everton pressure. As the Toffees pushed Villa further back into their own half, the mistakes inevitably began to flood in.
Villa defender Natalie Haigh would give the ball away to Valerie Gauvin but was able to recover and make an impressive last-ditch tackle.
Aston Villa were not able to keep Everton out for long, however as twenty minutes into the game, a low cross from Claire Emslie would find Hayley Raso, who steered the ball into the net for her first goal as a Toffee, a goal which left Aston Villa having to fight from behind in their third successive WSL game.
The Aussie would not have to wait long for her second as four minutes later, she would capitalise on a lapse in defence from Villa to finish at the far post. Everton would get a third in the space of seven minutes through a well-taken finish by Emslie.
Villa would show some promise throughout the half thanks to the holdup play of Stine Larsen and the fleet-footed Diana Silva, but the majority of their attacks came to no avail as they struggled to stay onside.
Raso would cap off an impressive first half for herself and her team with a cross that was met by a diving header from Gauvin to give Everton a 4-0 lead.
Everton fans would have been concerned to see Raso limping off the pitch as the players went in at halftime, she would be substituted during the break for Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.
After two more goals to start the second half by substitute Boye-Hlorkah and a second by Emslie, Everton would seemingly ease up on their press and allow Aston Villa to have more of the ball, potentially a sign of fatigue following their midweek clash as they did come into this tie with five changes from the aforementioned clash with Birmingham.
The majority of the second half would be much more evenly matched, both goalkeepers putting on a stellar display to stifle the opposition’s attack.
This was highlighted by a passage of play where Stine Larsen came close to securing a consolation goal for Villa but was denied by the feet of Sandy MacIver, to which Everton would counter, the ball falling to Emslie who fired towards the near post, only for her effort to be kept out by the diving Lisa Weiß.
Everton would ride out the second half to secure a 6-0 victory. This result puts Everton at the top of the WSL until tomorrow’s round of fixtures are played and extends the Toffees’ perfect start to the season, three games, three wins and not a single goal conceded.
By contrast, Aston Villa are still searching for their first points of the season, having lost on the opening day to Manchester City and again in Matchday 2 away to Reading.
Everton will look to continue their hot start to the season as they host West Ham Women on the 11th while Aston Villa will travel to face the team that is currently bottom of the WSL, Bristol City.
The Inbound Observer 