Everton fell to a narrow 2-1 WSL defeat against London City Lionesses at the Copperjax Community Stadium.
Delphine Cascarino opened the scoring for the hosts in the 24th minute, before Freya Godfrey doubled their advantage just ten minutes later with a powerful long-range strike.
Hannah Cain’s second-half goal sparked a late resurgence from the Blues, but despite their efforts to find an equaliser, Everton left empty-handed.
Everton started brightly, with Maz Pacheco sending a long-range effort onto the roof of the net before Holly McNamara delivered an arching cross which Elene Lete was forced to claim.
Danielle Van de Donk made sure the hosts soon showed their intent, unleashing an effort from the centre of the area just before the 15-minute mark, but her strike sailed over the bar.
Things were less fortunate for Everton just ten minutes later, as London City Lionesses’ attacking link-up came to fruition. A low cross was played neatly into Van de Donk’s path on the breakaway, with the Dutch international skilfully pulling the ball back to Cascarino, who whipped a strike into the bottom-right corner.
The Blues were pegged back once more on 34 minutes, as Godfrey dispossessed Everton in the middle of the park before driving an unstoppable strike into the far corner from the edge of the box.
Hoping to reduce the deficit before half-time, Yuka Momiki drove an inch-perfect ball towards McNamara in the area, but Elena Linari shepherded her well and sent the ball behind for a corner.
Chances were less frequent after the break, with Janni Thomsen testing Brosnan from long range to produce the most presentable opportunity of the opening stages, but the Everton goalkeeper collected comfortably.
Midway through the half, McNamara looked to raise the tempo for Everton, troubling the London City Lionesses’ backline and winning a corner, but the resulting set-piece failed to threaten.
Everton’s increased intensity was rewarded in the 71st minute as McNamara expertly picked out the onrushing Cain, who headed home to cut the hosts’ lead.
Searching for an equaliser, Momiki rounded the hosts’ defence in the area before lifting a ball towards Naomi Mouchen, but the substitute couldn’t direct her effort on target.
Hannah Blundell then committed herself at the other end, producing an important block to deny Nicole Anyomi and keep Everton in the game.
A frantic final ten minutes followed, with Anyomi seeing a goal ruled out for offside, before a penalty appeal at the other end as Mouchon continued to threaten.
Layzell attacked Momiki’s corner in one final push for Everton, but Lete claimed the delivery as London City Lionesses held on for the win.
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