An unorthodox Helen Bleazard strike early in the second half was enough to give Yeovil Town a crucial victory away to Everton Ladies in the WSL 2 on Saturday.
Bleazard grabbed her second of the season when she curled a corner straight in at the near post minutes after the break, gifting the Glovers all three points in a game of few chances.
Earlier on in the match it seemed the Toffees would be first to open the scoring and Emily Hollinshead went close with a swerving effort from distance, after her superb turn of pace and driving run left the Yeovil defence for dead.
Shortly after, Corinne Yorston forced a fine save from Everton’s number one Megan Walsh after latching on to a Steph Williams’ through-ball.
But the Toffees nearly nicked it before the break when Lucy Whipp showed blistering pace to beat Yeovil’s Ellie Isaac, but could only fire her shot wide of the post.
Just 4 minutes after the restart Yeovil found themselves in front when Bleazard curled her set-piece under the crossbar and directly in to the net. But Everton almost replied instantly through Simone Magill, but the striker’s goal-bound effort was denied by a last-ditch block from Glover’s defender Nicola Cousins.
Toffee’s captain Michelle Hinnigan nearly produced the equaliser late on but Yeovil keeper Charlotte Haynes parried well, ultimately securing her side the three points.
The victory puts distance between third-placed Yeovil and chasing Everton, who could drop as low as 8th by the end of the weekend.
The Glover’s are now just three points behind the league’s top two teams, Reading and Doncaster, who both have 16 points from their opening 7 fixtures.
