Manchester United miss chance to close on WSL top three in drab draw at Everton

A group of well-choreographed, fancy-dress-wearing school-age dancers fully embraced the Halloween spirit as they boogied to one of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits at half-time at Goodison Park. Alas, the football match itself was no thriller.

For Manchester United, the only scary thing about this game was how few times they tested Courtney Brosnan in Everton’s goal across the first 75 minutes of the contest, as the visitors demonstrated a lack of creativity and ultimately missed the chance to narrow the gap to the sides in the European qualification spots.

Brosnan did well to save from Elisabeth Terland’s strike, as Manchester United grew into the game late on and began to apply some pressure, but overall this was a fixture worthy of finishing goalless, or – as Sky Sports put it – ghoul-less. Terland has scored five Women’s Super League goals against the Merseyside club but Brosnan was equal to her close-range shot after Jess Park’s through ball.

Everton, who are winless in all 15 of their WSL meetings with Manchester United, will have been the happier with the point. There was more cause for optimism at full time after their encouraging performance, but they missed the opportunity to climb above their opponents into fourth and might wish they could have converted some of their good midfield play.

Their former Manchester United full-back Hannah Blundell hooked a dangerous effort, left-footed, towards the top corner in the first half but her shot was saved by Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who also held on to shots – directed straight at the keeper – from Ornella Vignola either side of the break.

Rosa van Gool and Yuka Momiki were combining well for Everton across the midfield to frustrate United. United had won away at Everton in the last four seasons, but they were second best in the first half on and then unable to break the deadlock in the closing stages despite making improvements after Simi Awujo came on.

Eva Olid’s United had been on a positive run, winning three and drawing one of their previous four WSL matches, last weekend’s derby against Manchester City through amorale-boosting late equaliser. They also enjoyed another solid victory in the Players Cup on Wednesday, 3-0 at home to second-tier Burnley, to sit top of the table in that competition with a 100% record, but they were stifled by an Everton side whose midfield kept the ball well and whose backline appeared to be well-prepared.

A Jess Park effort sailed high over the bar, after an Andrea Medina shot had been blocked inside the Everton box, but otherwise there was relatively little to note of Manchester United’s first 45 minutes from an attacking perspective, while the Everton fans in the stands threw their support behind midfielder Ruby Mace and chanted calls for her to play for England.

This was Everton’s first draw of the league campaign, after three wins and four defeats, and they climbed above Arsenal – who play on Sunday – into sixth. They remain just two points behind United, as Scott Phelan continues to oversee a steady – if unspectacular – spell in charge.