Ladies are victorious but out of Europe

Oct 17 2007 by Paul Garrity, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON Ladies’ UEFA Cup campaign ended yesterday, even though they beat Valur Reykjavik 3-1 in Belgium.

As Mo Marley’s team were defeated in their opening two group games against Rapid Wezemaal and Frankfurt, they needed a victory by a three-goal margin to go through on goal difference.

They also needed to rely on Frankfurt beating Wezemaal for their quarter-final dreams to be a reality.

But a goal from Katrin Jónsdóttir just before the hour mark sealed their fate, and Everton just couldn’t force another goal in the final 30 minutes. After all the incidents that have plagued the squad in their time in Belgium, including no pre-match meal before their last fixture, they did encounter another rare event in this game.

Everton were awarded a penalty after just 11 minutes played, but the usually dependable Fara Williams missed from 12-yards.

But they did take the lead seven minutes before half-time, Jody Handley with her first strike of the match.

Then after the break summer signing Natasha Dowie grabbed her debut goal for the club, before Handley collected her second to make it 3-0.

But Reykjavik’s goal just five minutes after Handley’s second could not be pulled back, no matter how much they pressured.

“We’ve won 3-1, but were out on goal difference,” said Everton coach Keith Marley.

“The girls played their hearts out. We couldn’t ask any more from them.”

Meanwhile, Everton’s Rachel Brown, Rachel Unitt, Lindsay Johnson, Fara Williams, Jill Scott and Jody Handley have been called up to the latest England squad to face Belarus, in a European Championship qualifier on Saturday October 27.

The match is to be staged at the Banks Stadium in Walsall, home town of Everton defender Rachel Unitt.

And it’s the first match the team will play after being knocked out of the World Cup at the hands of the United States last month, and manager Hope Powell wants her players to bounce back.

“We now need to reinvigorate ourselves,” said Powell.