Honours even as Everton are held by Reading at Walton Hall Park

Everton and Reading were unable to be separated as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Walton Hall Park this evening.

Both goals came in a keenly-contested first half with Simone Magill heading in the opener for the hosts before Natasha Harding soon levelled with a superb curling strike from 20 yards.

Nicoline Sorensen had a good opportunity to open the scoring for Everton inside a minute but she fired over, she was possibly a little surprised that a low cross from the right found it’s way through a forest of players to her feet.

Good chances were at a premium early on but the visitors went the closest when Jess Fishlock hammered an effort in on goal only to see her shot blocked by home keeper Sandy MacIver.

Everton broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a goal that pretty much came out of nothing. Sorensen’s low shot wasn’t held by Grace Moloney in the Reading goal, allowing Magill to head home the opener from just a couple of yards.

Reading were to go into the break level and four minutes later, they found the back of the net when Harding beat MacIver with a looping effort from far out right.

Everton went straight out on the attack in the second half and only a superb piece of defending by Rachel Rowe denied Magill a second goal.

Reading brought veteran midfielder Fara Williams on just after the hour and her free-kick delivery was headed narrowly wide by Kristine Leine before Claire Emslie glanced a headed effort off target at the other end.

Everton searched for a winner and began to put some pressure on the Reading back-line. Magill looped a header into the arms of Moloney before Hayley Raso drilled an effort over as The Blue Girls struggled to find the breakthrough.

Emslie then went close as she curled her shot just over the bar before Moloney clawed away a Megan Finnigan header at the death as the scoreline ended 1-1 and the points were shared.

Everton end the day in third position in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League table while Reading are seventh.