Good girl
More ground lost as ladies get Gunned down
(From Daily Post)
Everton lost further ground on their league rivals yesterday, as they were beaten 4-1 by leaders
Arsenal at Marine.
The team had high hopes of causing an upset before the game, but disaster stuck with just four minutes played when Julie Fleeting was left free in the six-yard box to lob
Arsenal's opener.
Young defender Fern Whelan had to limp off the field with a knee injury a couple of minutes later, before the visitors hit the bar.
Everton's first efforts of the match came just before half-time, but Jody Handley's deflected shot and Emily Westwood's header failed to trouble the
Gunners goal.
FIFA World Player of the Year nominee Kelly Smith then doubled the lead, as she blasted home from the edge of the box following a typical jinky run.
In the second period
Everton looked more like themselves but the only chance they created came from Michelle Evans.
However, she couldn't force the ball past Emma Byrne from close range.
Arsenal scored a second on the break, and although Fleeting saw her first shot saved by Rachel Brown, the ball fell kindly for the striker to net her second.
Everton did score the first goal the
Gunners conceded this season and it came from a spot-kick from Fara Williams. But moments later
Everton gave one away at the other end.
Lindsay Johnson brought down substitute Gemma Davison in the box, and Lianne Sanderson dispatched the kick.
So with that defeat,
Everton still have a lot of work to do if they wish to repeat last season's heroics, as
Arsenal look set to run away with league championship again this year.
