Everton Ladies continue winning streak in Continental Cup

Everton Ladies won 1-0 at home against Birmingham City Ladies, building on their last win in the Continental Cup, but this time it was against a WSL 1 team.

The Toffee Girls started off aggressively, getting three shots off within the first dozen or so minutes. In the 12th minute though, striker Courtney Sweetman-Kirk chipped the ball over Birmingham’s goalkeeper to put the Blue Girls in a lead they never relinquished.

Excellent defence by Danielle Turner and Gabby George was part of a hard-fought performance to get the clean sheet while strikers Sweetman-Kirk and Chloe Kelly continued to test the visitors’ goalkeeper.

After the game, the 20-year-old George added -

“I am very pleased with the clean sheet. We have been working hard to try to get them in the league, unfortunately it’s not worked out.

“We have put in some very good performances and not got anything from it but to get three points on the board in the Continental Cup with the goal and the clean sheet, we couldn’t ask for much more.

“I thought we put in a good performance. We showed we could play, defend and all parts of our game against a very good side.”

As the WSL 2’s top goal scorer last season, Sweetman-Kirk was a big transfer deadline day signing for Everton. Now that she has scored her debut, expect to see the floodgates open for many goals ahead.

She told Our Game Magazine:

“I want to be the best at what I do and I’ll do everything I can on my side to get to those goals.

“Our attack going forward, if we can get it right, will be frightening. It’s all about the team so if we can have a good season, then everybody benefits.”

Next up, the Blue Girls have an away Continental Cup game against Manchester City Women on Sunday. The last time the two teams squared off was only a month ago and it ended in a 3-2 defeat for Everton.

Expect to see a large City crowd at Academy Stadium, as the champions tend to get some of the highest attendance rates in the WSL 1.

But, as Man City player Claire Emslie said on Twitter, “We know Everton is going to be a really hard game.”

Come on You Blue Girls!