Everton Women 2-0 Newcastle Women: Late Vignola double sinks struggling Magpies
Newcastle Women's miserable run in the WSL Players Cup continued at Goodison Park, where a brace from Ornella Vignola in the closing stages condemned them to a fourth defeat from four in the competition this season.
The game was goalless for long periods, with Newcastle holding firm defensively for over an hour, but Everton's pressure eventually told. Vignola broke the deadlock in the 81st minute before adding a second just three minutes later, in the 84th, to put the result beyond doubt and leave Newcastle with nothing to show for a battling display.
Newcastle made an early change at the break, with Kayla Rendell coming on for Anna Tamminen at half-time, while further changes followed throughout the second half as Jessie Gale, Ashanti Akpan, Mollie Lambert and Jemma Purfield were all introduced in an attempt to change the course of the match. Everton also rang the changes, bringing on Yuka Momiki, Clare Wheeler, Mayumi Pacheco and Rosa van Gool as the hosts managed the game.
Discipline became an issue for Newcastle as the match wore on. Leanne Kiernan was booked in the 48th minute shortly after the restart, and Lia Cataldo picked up a yellow card of her own in the 65th minute. Everton's Vignola was also cautioned, in the 66th minute, before going on to grab both goals late on.
The defeat leaves Newcastle bottom of the WSL Players Cup standings, sitting 22nd with three defeats from three games and no points on the board. Everton, by contrast, move to two wins out of two in the competition, climbing to fourth in the group with six points from their matches so far.
It continues a tough spell for Newcastle, who go into this fixture on the back of a difficult run of form. Everton's home advantage and growing confidence proved decisive in the end, with their matchwinner Vignola stepping up when it mattered most to settle what had been a tight, cagey contest for long periods.
Attention for Newcastle will now turn to finding a response as they look to get their first points of the campaign on the board, with the second-half collapse at Goodison Park certain to prompt some soul-searching among the squad.
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