Everton made an impressive start to the new season in the FA Women's Super League as they claimed a 1-0 win at Birmingham City.
An own goal from Kerys Harrop just seconds after the start of the second half gave the Toffees their first league victory against the Blues since 2012.
Both sides cancelled each other out in the game's opening exchanges but the hosts gained the upper hand as the half wore on, with Claudia Walker hitting the side netting and Lucy Staniforth forcing Tinja-Riikka Korpela to tip over the bar.
Abbi Grant almost opened the scoring after Brianna Visalli's floated pass into the box but could only guide her header just wide.
However, Everton had the best chance of the half as Dan Turner's overlapping run opened up Birmingham's defence and Hannah Hampton's superb reflexes denied Simone Magill from point-blank range.
But the Toffees took the lead straight after the restart as Hannah Cain burst past Rebecca Holloway on the left and her cross was diverted into the net by Harrop.
Cain continued to cause problems for the Blues, robbing Holloway of the ball near the corner flag and teeing up Molly Pike, whose shot trickled wide.
Gabrielle George should have doubled the visitors' lead shortly afterwards but planted a free header wide.
Chloe Arthur made her pay almost immediately as her long-range piledriver struck the woodwork, while Rachel Williams almost converted Staniforth's corner at the back post, but Everton soaked up the pressure to claim all three points.
Match report supplied by Sportsbeat
