Manchester City Women 5, Everton 1 (Continental Cup)
Caroline Weir, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Jess Park, and Ellen White all scored as Manchester City eased past Everton in their Continental Cup group game.
The Toffees had earlier cancelled out Weir’s opener with a fine equaliser by Grace Clinton but City dispelled any lingering nerves to earn only their third win of the season.
Summer signing Ruby Mace, 18, made her debut for City at the heart of Manchester City’s depleted defence for their Continental League Cup game against Everton.
City boss Gareth Taylor had to reshuffle again after Georgia Stanway was sent off in the Manchester derby on Sunday and Mace was partnered at the back by Alanna Kennedy with Alex Greenwood moving to left back instead of Demi Stokes while Janine Beckie filled in at right back.
Caroline Weir’s solo goal gave City the lead after just 9 minutes after she found herself unchallenged in the box.
But the lead lasted less than two minutes as City’s defensive frailties were exposed again when Grace Clinton turned past Lauren Hemp and curled a shot past Karima Benameur Taieb.
Greenwood’s corner was converted by Khadija ’Bunny’ Shaw for City to retake the lead after 32 minutes – her 6th goal of the season.
Improved Manchester City thrash Everton to record third win of the season
Mace got on the end of a Janine Beckie cross but saw her chance deflected away for a corner while Courtney Brosnan saved from Shaw.
Ellen White gobbled up a poor clearance outside of her area by Brosnan and almost chipped the ball into the empty net but the ball bounced wide.
White also went close after the break before Khadija Shaw, who was caught by Brosnan when both went for the ball earlier, was replaced by Jess Park after 68 minutes.
Poppy Pattinson cleared the ball that Hemp put in for White as City looked to make the game safe.
Gabrielle George almost put through her own goal, with her blushes saved by Brosnan, before Hemp drilled in from 6 yards out after sweeping the ball home from 6 yards out from Park’s cross.
Park made it 4-1 from 12 yards out after Ellen White won the ball and slid her through.
Demi Stokes and Jill Scott and came on for the last ten minutes for Hemp and Keira Walsh and Stokes tried to chip Brosnan only for the Everton ‘keeper to get back in time to collect.
And there was time for White to make it 5-1 – her second of the season – as she guided a right wing cross from Beckie past Brosnan two minutes from time with a glancing header.
Brosnan saved from close range as White went for a second in added time but the Toffees had just about had enough of City for the night.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 5, Everton 1 (Continental Cup)
Man City Women: Taieb, Beckie, Mace, Kennedy, Greenwood, Walsh (Stokes 80), Coombs, Weir, Shaw (Park 68), Hemp (Scott 80), White (C)
Man City Women subs not used: Keating, Angeldahl
Goals: Weir 9; Shaw 32; Hemp 74; Park 79; White 88
Everton: Brosnan, Sevecke, Dali, Christiansen (C), Duggan, Gauvin (Anvegard 63), Finnigan, Maier (George 57), Galli, Clinton, Pattinson
Everton subs not used: MacIver, Turner, Graham, Bennison
Goal: Clinton 11