Aston Villa Women exited this season's FA Cup at the fourth round stage on Saturday, losing 3-0 at home to Everton.
Karoline Olesen struck shortly after half-time before a Katja Snoeijs double took the tie out of Villa's reach.
The result gives Villa an unfortunate start to 2024, while hopes of a cup run similar to that of last season have been cut short.
Possession
59%Shots
13Shots On Target
7Corners
8Fouls
100
0
Cards
0
0
Carla Ward handed an immediate start to Noelle Maritz, who joined the club from Arsenal last weekend.
The Switzerland international lined up in defence alongside Rachel Corsie, Anna Patten and Sarah Mayling.
That would be the only change to the side that started our 1-0 win over Brighton prior to Christmas, with Maz Pacheco missing the game through suspension.
Villa started the game in control and had a decent crack at opening the scoring inside six minutes.
Kirsty Hanson drove down the left-hand side, a familiar sight for Villa fans, before sliding the ball across the area where Rachel Daly tested Courtney Brosnan in the Everton goal.
Soon after, Clare Wheeler’s well-struck effort from distance was comfortably held by Anna Leat.
Everton got a foothold as the first period wore on and should’ve gone in front when Emma Bissell’s tame shot was saved by Leat.
The sides were level as they entered the break but the visitors seriously threatened the Villa goal immediately afterwards when Hanna Bennison struck the post.
It wouldn’t take much longer for the increasing Everton pressure to tell, though.
Olesen turned in a cutback from Bennison to send Villa into desperation mode.
Ward introduced Laura Blindkilde Brown and Simone Magill immediately afterwards, but it was a starter who almost levelled things up.
After an outstanding long ball from Corsie, Adriana Leon side-footed a first-time effort inches wide of the post.
The hopes of a comeback were cut short not long after as Katja Snoeijs completed a double to give the Toffees a commanding victory and a route into round five.
Villa will turn their attentions towards a crunch league clash at Leicester City on Friday.
A Villa Women: Leat, Mayling, Patten, Corsie, Maritz, Dali (Magill 64'), Staniforth, Nobbs (Blindkilde Brown 64'), Leon (Salmon 83'), Daly, Hanson (Lehmann 83')
Subs: van Domselaar, Lehmann, McLoughlin, Salmon, Mullett, Blindkilde Brown, Magill, Sallaway
Everton Women: Brosnan, Stenevik (Hope 70'), Finnigan, Galli, Olesen (Kühl 70'), Wheeler, Bennison (Campbell 76'), Sara Holmgaard, Snoeijs, Payne, Bissell (Madsen 71')
Subs: Veje, Campbell, Duggan, Hart, Hope, Piemonte, Kühl, Madsen, Wilding
