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After 26 years in the top flight, Everton Ladies will be looking to get off to a flier against Aston Villa as they start life in Women’s Super League 2 – the second tier of women’s football in England.

The Blues kick off their 2015 campaign away against the West Midlands side at Sutton Coldfield Central Ground on Wednesday March 18 (7.30pm).

Everton then travel to Millwall Lionesses on March 29 with their first home game at the Select Security Stadium, Widnes, coming on Sunday April 5 (2pm).

The WLS2 season also concludes at home with the Blues hosting Oxford United Women on Sunday October 18 (2pm).

Manager Andy Spence said: “When the games are announced, you are always excited and you can certainly begin to start planning properly.

“We start with, for me, one of the toughest away games you could have. Aston Villa are a really good side who, similar to ourselves, have a good bunch of young players with one or two more experienced heads.

“In terms of their finish last season, they had a decent campaign and ended it strongly. I am sure they will be looking to build on that.

“After that we have the likes of Millwall Lionesses and London Bees, then Doncaster as well. So there are some really exciting fixtures for us to look forward to.”

After failing to win any of their league games last season, Spence’s side finished bottom of the table in 2014 and have lost several of their remaining England international players since.

Goalkeeper Rachel Brown retired while left-back Alex Greenwood and centre-back Fern Whelan both joined Notts County.

Top scorer Nikita Parris also departed on loan for the season to Manchester City as she bids to win a place in England’s World Cup finals squad this summer.

As Spence looks to reshape his squad he has drafted in striker Danielle Young and defender Danielle Lea from Manchester City and Liverpool pair Megan Alexander, who can play anywhere down the left, and defender Ellie Stewart plus New Zealand prospect, left-back Laura Merrin.

The Blues boss has called upon Evertonians to take in his side’s matches as they look to bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

He said: “The club really want the fans to come and support the girls this season.

“It is a huge year for us. Following our relegation we want to respond at the first opportunity. The fans are always great to us and I know there are a number of incentives to come and watch the Ladies team.

“It’s a cheap way to watch football but you are getting a good product. In terms of value for money it’s hard to rival.

“We are excited with the talent that we have on show and for fans to come and watch us. We have five or six England Under-19 internationals, a number of Under-23s as well, and so we have a real core of young players, with most having come through our Centre of Excellence. So we want people to come and see them and say that these are players who have Everton right the way through them.

“We want people to take up the great offers that will be available because we want to make this a really exciting season – and ultimately a really successful one.”

Full fixture list: March 18 Aston Villa Ladies (a) 7.30pm; March 29 Millwall Lionesses (a) 2pm; April 5 London Bees (h) 2pm; April 18 Doncaster Rovers Belles (h) 6.30pm; April 26 Watford Ladies (a) 2pm; May 9 Reading FC Women (a) 6pm; May 16 Yeovil Town Ladies (h) 6.30pm; May 24 Oxford United Women (a) 2pm; May 31 Watford Ladies (h) 2pm; July 12 Yeovil Town Ladies (a) 2pm; July 19 Reading FC Women (h) 2pm; July 26 Doncaster Rovers Belles (a) 2pm; August 9 Millwall Lionesses (h) 2pm; August 23 Durham Women (a) 12pm; September 6 Aston Villa Ladies (h) 2pm; September 27 Durham Women (h) 2pm; October 4 London Bees (a) 2pm; October 18 Oxford United Women (h) 2pm.