Ruby Mace struck twice to secure Everton a 2-1 WSL victory over Birmingham City at Goodison Park.
Mace opened the scoring after 12 minutes before Birmingham responded almost immediately through Océane Hurtré, but the Everton midfielder had the final say 18 minutes from time as her deflected effort secured a fourth consecutive home victory.
Everton started on the front foot and Mace came close inside the opening three minutes, seeing a long-range effort pushed away by Sophie Baggaley.
The hosts continued to threaten, with Ornella Vignola cutting inside from the left before forcing Baggaley into another save, while Honoka Hayashi then saw an effort from Hannah Blundell’s cross collected at the near post.
That pressure finally materialised after 12 minutes as Momiki’s strike from the edge of the box was pushed back into the sea of shirts by Baggaley. Momiki reacted quickest to pick up the rebound and with Mace waiting centrally, she slipped the ball into her path as the midfielder made no mistake, curling a first-time finish into the top corner to put Everton ahead.
That advantage was soon cancelled out, however, as Birmingham hit back just three minutes later on the break. Océane Hurtré broke forward before finding the bottom corner to bring the visitors level into the break.
Birmingham started the second half with greater intent and nearly took the lead when Neve Herron found space inside the six-yard box, but her effort fell wide.
Lily Crosthwaite then came close shortly after the hour mark, curling an effort just beyond the post as the visitors continued to threaten.
However, Everton responded by increasing the pressure and were rewarded in the 72nd minute when Mace was teed up by Vignola on the edge of the box before seeing her strike take a deflection and veer into the bottom corner, restoring Everton’s advantage and completing her brace.
The Blues held on through the closing stages despite Birmingham searching for another equaliser.
Everton will be back in action with a trip to the Capital to face London City Lionesses after the international break.
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