Bristol City 0-4 Everton Women: Match Report and Reaction

19/05/2024 08:00

Boss salutes fans and players as Blues sign off with emphatic win.

Brian Sorensen praised both the fans and his team as Everton Women recorded their biggest WSL win of the season at Bristol City.

Goals from Katja Snoeijs, Sara Holmgaard, Emma Bissell and Martina Piemonte ensured an eighth-placed finish for the Blues, who treated their sizeable following to an afternoon of flowing football and superb finishing.

And the boss was quick to salute both player and fan alike in what has been a season dominated by injury and frustration.

"It was wonderful to see so many of them making the trip down to see us. It just shows the support that we have, and had, all season," said Sorensen.

"And I want to thank each and every one of them for supporting us and hope they keep doing that."

"I have said to the girls in the dressing room that we have a really good group of players who have stuck together and been adaptable with everything that has been thrown at us this season.

"Even this game, we had to be adaptable. (Katrine) Veje came in and did well and I think Sara played something like four different positions today.

"That just sums it up; we don't look to drop our levels, everyone knows their job and we just played really good football and I am really proud of them."

Hanna Bennison, Aurora Galli and Veje were the three changes from the side that drew with Tottenham Hotspur, but it didn't take long for Everton to establish total control against the already relegated Robins.

Snoeijs was fed by Holmgaard on 16 minutes, and the Dutch star turned her marker and slotted home beautifully to give the visitors the lead.

The two linked up again seven minutes later only this time reversed roles as Snoeijs shrugged off the challenge of Brooke Aspin to set up the advancing Holmgaard, who made no mistake in doubling the advantage for the Toffees.

It nearly got even better for the Blues and Holmgaard just before the break, but the Dane's towering header from Galli's dangerous corner went just wide.

But three minutes after the restart it was three. Bissell was expertly picked out by Veje, and the former Bristol City star slammed home a close-range volley to effectively end any chance of a comeback from the hosts.

Ffion Morgan did give Courtney Brosnan something to do minutes later though, but the Toffees custodian comfortably held her long-range strike.

At the other end, Snoeijs and Holmgaard's potent partnership nearly yielded more fruit on 52 minutes, but the 27-year-old's first-time strike failed to hit the target after meeting the latter's inviting centre.

Piemonte was introduced on the hour mark for Galli and joined in with tormenting an already tired Bristol City defence. The Italian got in position but her glancing header was bravely blocked before it reached its target.

Eleanor Dale then came close and the Robins had 'keeper Fran Bentley to thank for it remaining at three. The stopper read Snoeijs' through ball and rushed out to narrow the angle for the forward, who fired just wide.

But Bentley could do nothing to deny Piemonte in stoppage time. Dale's low cross from the right found the unmarked forward, who calmly took a touch before finishing in the bottom-left corner.