Everton 1-2 Brighton: Elisabeth Terland double gets Seagulls off to winning start

Elisabeth Terland scored two first-half goals to help Brighton get their Women's Super League season off to a winning start against Everton.

Brighton took early command when Terland headed home in the third minute after Katie Robinson's shot had struck the crossbar, before adding a second 11 minutes later.

Everton captain Megan Finnigan netted with 25 minutes remaining to give her side hope, but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser despite dominating the second half.

The win marks a positive start for Melissa Phillips' team who were involved in a relegation fight last season.

Phillips, who was appointed in March following Jens Scheuer's departure, could not have asked for a better beginning when Terland struck first.

Robinson's fierce strike from 25 yards was pushed onto the bar by Everton's new goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, but the rebound dropped perfectly for Terland to claim the first goal of the new WSL campaign.

The 22-year-old Norway forward was a constant threat and doubled Brighton's lead when she ran on to Robinson's clever threaded pass and slotted it past former Manchester United keeper Ramsey.

Brian Sorensen's side grew into the game, though, with Nicoline Sorensen coming close to halving the deficit when she blasted a strike off the bar from close range.

New signing Martina Piemonte, who joined Everton from AC Milan this summer, also tested Brighton keeper Sophie Baggaley on a couple of occasions.

However, it was the club's longest-serving player, Finnigan, who gave Everton a lifeline in the 65th minute, collecting Hanna Bennison's corner before turning and firing a low shot into the bottom corner.

Everton pushed in search of an equaliser but the visitors managed the game well in the final moments.

German international Pauline Bremer, making her WSL return after a three-year spell at Wolfsburg, showed her experience to hold up possession in the corner and run down the clock as Brighton held out.