YEOVIL TOWN LADIES 1

EVERTON LADIES 0

YEOVIL Town Ladies made history as they won their very first Women’s Super League match with a 1-0 triumph at home to Everton Ladies.

Victory was the club’s first since a 3-0 success over Sheffield two years ago in WSL2 and ends a run of 41 games without a win.

After four successive 2-1 defeats, Lee Burch made one change from the defeat at Brighton last weekend.

Sixteen-year-old Erin Bloomfield was given her first start in the Women’s Super League, replacing Emily Donovan in an attacking line-up.

The Glovers started well at the Clayson Stadium, Dorchester, but chances were hard to come by for both sides. Danielle Turner did well early on to beat the offside trap but Megan Walsh was equal to her effort.

On 21 minutes, the home side opening the scoring in some style. Hannah Short’s free-kick was cleared by the Everton defence but the ball came back to Short, who tried her luck from distance. Her shot evaded everyone, including Kirstie Levell in the Everton goal.

It sparked wild celebrations from the home side and it meant Yeovil looked more assured going forward. Olivia Fergusson beat three defenders to find her way inside the box. She was put under pressure, though, and her shot was eventually wide of the post.

Unsurprisingly, the second half saw Everton pile bodies forward to get back into the game.

They also made a change at the break as Turner made way for Hannah Cain.

Chloe Kelly was causing Yeovil all sorts of problems and was only denied four minutes in but came up against a stalwart in goalkeeper Walsh.

Yeovil struggled to get out of their own half at times but did Fergusson did play in Amber Gaylor midway through the second half but Levell did enough and gathered the ball well.

With 12 minutes to go, Walsh proved to be the hero as she pulled off a remarkable double save. Cain’s effort into the corner was saved but the rebound fell kindly to Boye-Hlorkah who was somehow kept out by Walsh.

It earned her a well-deserved player of the match award and was the catalyst for a hard-earned clean sheet.

Five minutes of added time came and went as Everton continued to press but the Glovers held on for the record-breaking victory and the celebrations were quite a sight. The victory means Yeovil are now out of the relegation zone for the first time this season as they head into the international break this weekend.

Yeovil: Walsh, Goddard, Cousins, Short, Alexander; Mason (Syme 73), Fergusson, Gaylor (Horwood 58), Evans, Heatherson (Donovan 83), Bloomfield. Subs not used: Howard, Buxton, Burridge, Piggott

Everton: Levell, Finnigan, George, Worm (Brougham), Bryson (Walker 77), Bruinenberg, Stringer, Turner (Cain 45); Boye-Hlorkah, Kaagman, Kelly. Subs not used: James, Hinds

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