AILEEN WHELAN and Brighton ruined Jean-Luc Vasseu’s first game in charge of Everton.
Rampaging forward Whelan combined to clinical effect with Danielle Carter as Albion leapfrogged Tottenham to third with a 1-0 win.
The result saw Everton’s tough start to their WSL season continue with the club beaten for the fourth time in six games.
It was also their first loss this term to a side that finished outside the top three last season.
The Seagulls were on the end of a 5-0 drubbing the last time the two sides met with the Toffees trouncing Albion at their home ground.
It was Hope Powell’s visiting side who had the upper hand this time with Whelan close to putting them ahead early on.
Her goal-bound header hit the post before being cleared out of danger by the hosts in the 15th minute,
One of the Toffees’ best chances came through Toni Duggan taking advantage of a poor back pass before forcing a comfortable save from Megan Walsh moments before.
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The second half saw Brighton threaten again with Maya Le Tissier’s half-volley forcing a quality save from Sandy MacIver.
Albion eventually broke the deadlock with Whelan heading them in front courtesy of a pinpoint cross from Carter with an hour on the clock.
Everton came close to getting a leveller when Valerie Gauvin flicked the ball narrowly wide in injury time.
But Brighton wrapped up a win to leave the Toffees eighth before their clash with Manchester United.
Brighton are set to take on Leicester at home in one of six Women’s Football Weekend next week.
Earlier, Emma Hayes saw her players notch up a hard-fought 1-0 win against Aston Villa ahead of their Champions League clash with Servette and a top-flight duel with Manchester City.
Jessie Fleming’s first-half strike led Chelsea to their fifth win from six WSL games – although they had to withstand some late forays forward from Carla Ward’s side.
After the game, Hayes said: “I felt calm (about the narrow lead) because there is experience in the group.
“They knew what the game was, like I said at 1-0, you’re away from home, the opponent is going to be buoyed by the opportunity.”
Ward, whose side play Birmingham next, added: “They’ve competed against world-class players out there af you look at that last 10-15 minutes, we were the ones on top, pushing them back and you could see a little bit of nerves in them.
“Had there been another five minutes, you never know. I’m massively proud of the girls.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
