Honoka Hayashi’s early first-half strike was enough for Everton Women to secure victory over West Ham United at Goodison Park as the Blues secured a third straight win, something that has not been achieved by the Toffees since March 2022.
Interim boss Scott Phelan named an unchanged XI for the third straight week, a decision that was duly rewarded with another battling performance and second consecutive clean sheet.
Everton began brightly and the Goodison crowd didn’t have wait long as Hayashi – who this week signed a new contract with the Blues – gave the hosts the lead with just seven minutes on the clock.
Fellow compatriot Yuka Momiki found Hannah Blundell down the right flank, and the full-back produced a low cross that found the oncoming midfielder, who made no mistake in front of the Gwladys Street to score her fourth goal of the season.
Inma Gabarro was in a mood to build on her winning goal against London City Lionesses last week and continues to forge what is promising to be a very potent partnership with her fellow Spaniard, Ornella Vignola.
And the former was unlucky to not make it two on 24 minutes, forcing a reactionary stop from the foot of Kinga Szemik, who did well to get anything on the forward’s powerful strike.
Rita Guarino’s side looked to reply just after the restart but found Courtney Brosnan difficult to get to, as Everton’s defence was alive to the threat of the visitors’ forward play, with Oona Siren looking the most lively for her side.
And it would Szemik who would be the one to make the next save when the Hammers’ stopper was on hand to thwart Gabarro again just after the hour mark.
Vignola was the provider, lifting a delicious ball over the defence, which was elegantly taken down by the 23-year-old, who opened up her body to let fly but saw her shot was thwarted by the Poland international.
With the game evenly poised, Phelan called upon Aurora Galli, who replaced Rosa van Gool on 68 minutes, while Zara Kramzar entered proceedings in place of Vignola as the Slovenian made her Goodison debut.
And the extra legs in midfield proved a shrewd move as the Toffees held out for the victory, leapfrogging Aston Villa into eighth place in the WSL as Phelan’s formula is proving a welcome tonic for his players.
Can Everton Women’s fabulous February continue? Merseyside rivals Liverpool will be the next obstacle as the Blues travel to to St Helens for their fifth-round FA Cup on Sunday, 22 February.