Everton came from two goals down against in-form Oxford United on Sunday to record their first win in three games in all competitions, courtesy of a last minute penalty from Paige Williams.
Coming in to the fixture, United were unbeaten in their last four and looked full of confidence, opening the scoring after just 12 seconds.
Lauren Allison opened her account for the season in impressive fashion straight from the kick-off, after latching on to Katie Stanley’s through ball, and calmly slotted the ball past Toffee’s keeper Kirstie Levell.
Stanley then got one of her own – moments after her audacious lofted effort from 40 yards was expertly tipped over by Levell – when she found herself in acres of space at the back post. The midfielder couldn’t miss and Oxford doubled their lead as Everton’s defence were left shell-shocked.
The Toffee’s attack however were revived after finding themselves behind and began to get a foothold in the game, going close through Kelly Jones and Simone Magill.
Their efforts were eventually rewarded after 20 minutes when Dan Turner was brought down by Oxford captain Sahara Osborne-Ricketts.
The resulting free-kick in a dangerous area was then eagerly dispatched in to the bottom corner by Michelle Hinnigan to begin the comeback for the visitors.
After the goal, Everton piled on the pressure but remained frustrated until after the break, when Millie Turner powered home her header from Dan Turner’s corner on the hour mark to level the scores.
Despite their slow start to the match, Everton looked the best bet to find a winner in the closing stages and should have gone in front when Williams whipped an exquisite ball across the face of a goal that only needed a touch, but the unmarked Claudia Walker couldn’t quite stretch far enough.
Oxford were then indebted to their number one Demi Lambourne for keeping them in the game in the final ten minutes, when she blocked at the feet of Magill, who looked certain to score, before springing back to her feet to tip over Hinnigan’s follow-up effort.
But despite Lambourne’s best efforts, Everton got the goal they deserved deep in to stoppage time when Dan Turner seized on a misplaced backpass and was brought down in the box just as she was about to pull the trigger.
Williams stepped up to convert the spot kick, breaking Oxford hearts, and sealing the three points for the Toffees.
Speaking after the match, goalscorer Millie Turner told the club’s official website: “It was a dramatic end to the game but it was important to get the three points. We’ve had disappointing results in the last few games but to come back from two goals down and get the win is fantastic.”
