Everton Women 1-0 Liverpool: WSL Match Report and Reaction

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Brosnan loves fans as Blues claim victory in final Goodison derby

Courtney Brosnan praised the fans but declared she is not satisfied with just one win after Katja Snoeijs' first half penalty settled matters in favour of Everton Women in the final women's derby to be played at Goodison Park.

The Dutch striker remained cool from 12 yards late in the first 45, but it was the Republic of Ireland stopper, who capped off a fine week after being named her country's Women's Player of the Year for the 2nd consecutive year at the 34th FAI International Awards, that produced the heroics with some fine saves that ensured the Blues grabbed their first WSL win of the season which lifts them off the bottom of the table and into 9th.

And Brosnan knows that the side need to take this momentum forward, while revealing her happiness at given the fans something to celebrate.

"We absolutely love our fans, they stick with us through the high and through the lows," she said. "And obviously to do that at Goodison, in the final ever derby here is a really special feeling.

"It's a great win but we are not satisfied with that.

"Obviously, it is a long season and we have a lot of teams to play and we just need to keep progressing and take that momentum forward in the direction that we want to go."

Melissa Lawley - making her first league start of the season - and Lucy Hope, were Brian Sorensen's only two changes from the side that drew at Crystal Palace, replacing Karoline Olesen and Veatriki Sarri, who began proceedings on the bench.

So used to having the ball in most games, the Toffees found it was they who were chasing as the visitors retained possession well but found a well organised and stubborn Blues rearguard.

Toni Payne fashioned the hosts first real chance on 27 minutes when she was found down the left channel. The forward broke free and evaded Gemma Bonner's challenge but could only curl her effort wide of Teagan Micah's post.

The Liverpool stopper would be called into action minutes later though, producing a fine stop after Lawley was found Wheeler, before trying her luck from 25 yards with a low drive that had Micah at full stretch to keep the scores level.

Then came the game's biggest talking point four minutes before the interval.

The Blues, who were in the ascendency, were awarded a penalty after Honoka Hayashi appeared to be tripped just outside the Liverpool penalty box by Fuka Nagano.

Matt Beard's team protested but referee Abigail Byrne pointed to the spot and Snoeijs eased some pressure on both her and her team with a coolly dispatched spot kick that gave Micah no chance.

Into the second half and Everton were braced for a Liverpool response, but Brosnan showed why she is her country's player of the year with a terrific double save just eight minutes in.

Olivia Smith's cross into the box was blocked by Justine Vanhaevermaet blocked, before Nagano aimed at goal only for the Blues custodian to repel her effort.

The Japanese midfielder was first to capitalise on the rebound but saw her second shot stopped by an incredible close-range save from the Brosnan, who tipped the ball off target.

The game then became much like last season's Goodison encounter as both sides afforded each other little in a typical derby tussle.

Smith tested Brosnan again with 20 minutes remaining, but her firmly struck effort was easily gathered by Everton's No.1.

Sorensen, who was defending an unbeaten league record against Liverpool, looked to keep things fresh, and introduced Emma Bissell, Sarri, Olesen and Issy Hobson at some point during the second 45.

But it was the Barclays Player of the Match who had the final say deep into stoppage time when Bonner got her shot away from the centre of the box, only to see Brosnan save again to ensure that the Toffees would be keeping their second clean sheet in the league this season, and their first WSL win of the campaign.

Celebrations began around the stadium as the final whistle sounded, but Sorensen's side will be back in action in just three days when Manchester United visit Walton Hall Park in the Women's League Cup on Wednesday, 20 November.