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Everton 2-2 London Bees

EVERTON manager Andy Spence insists Danielle Turner is going from strength to strength as her second-half double rescued a point for Everton against London Bees.

The Bees were beaten 7-0 by Reading in their previous FA WSL 2 outing, but they outplayed Andy Spence’s side in the first half with Louise Fellows and Leigh Nicol giving them a 2-0 lead.

But Turner produced two calm finishes to level things up after the break and only a pair of exceptional Sophie Harris saves stopped the Toffees snatching all three points late on.

However, Spence believes his team must start games quicker if they are to find success this season.

“The first half was incredibly flat from our point of view,” he explained. “We didn’t compete and we didn’t play with any real intensity, so you’re going to make things difficult.

“We gifted goals and gifted chances and reached nowhere near the standards we’d expect but we said we needed a big response second half and I thought we got that.

“In the end we’ve come away feeling disappointed not to have won the game just on the number of chances that we’ve created.

“That’s another two goals for Dan today though to add to her goal at Aston Villa.

“She has started the season really well and is showing all the potential that we know she’s got.”

The Bees started strongly as Nicol curled an early effort against the post but Fellows went one better on 26 minutes, converting Katherine Huggins’ cross.

Nicol then doubled the lead in unusual circumstances on 39 minutes – her in-swinging corner flying over Everton keeper Megan Walsh and in at the far post.

Everton were level 12 minutes after the interval though, Turner scoring two almost identical goals by cutting in from the left and calming slotting past Harris.

The visiting keeper earned her team a point however, tipping Lindsay Johnson’s header onto the bar before denying another Lucy Whipp attempt.

And after squandering a 2-0 lead, Bees manager Julian Broomes concedes they must learn how to see games out.

“With a two-goal lead at half-time, you’d expect to go on and win the game,” said Broomes. “But I feel that our team is still a little bit naive because we’re not used to being in these positions.

“We should be looking to beat teams in and around us, and if Everton and Millwall are going to be the teams that are close to us then we’ve got to make sure we beat them so we can finish in the top half.”

Everton (4-4-2): Megan Walsh; Vicky Jones, Lindsay Johnson, Danielle Lea (Faye Bryson 45), Megan Alexander; Danielle Young, Kelly Jones, Michelle Hinnigan, Danielle Turner; Lucy Whipp, Jess King (Ella Hartley 45).

Subs not used: Kirstie Levell, Lauren Davies.



London Bees (4-2-3-1): Sophie Harris; Gemma Fraser, Aoife Hurley, Jade Dempster, Katherine Huggins; Louise Fellows, Rebecca Anderson; Leigh Nicol (Ashleigh Goddard 71), Andria Georgiou, Lucy Loomes; Cheryl Williams.

Subs not used: Bethan Davies, Billie Brooks, Sydney Hinchcliffe.



Attendance: 407

Referee: S. Mycock

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