It took a penalty shoot-out for Everton Women to edge past Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park in the Subway League Cup and move off the bottom of their group. 

In their last outing before the international break, Everton climbed to third in Group A with a first League Cup win thanks to a heroic display by Emily Ramsey.

The Toffees had a host of chances early on, but with Emily Batty continuously denying Kelly Gago and Katie Robinson hitting the woodwork, luck just wasn’t on their side. 

It wasn’t until the second half that the deadlock was broken, when Forest’s Aimee Claypole converted from the penalty spot with a calm finish into the bottom right of Ramsey’s net to put the Tricky Trees 1-0 up.

The Blues replied just minutes later, when Gago capitalised from a sloppy backpass by Ebba Hed and curled her strike past the outrushing Batty to register her first goal of the season in her fifth appearance.

Blue’s captain Clare Wheeler had the chance to put her team in front, but her striking shot from outside the box narrowly tipped over the Garibaldi’s goal.

Everton continued to build momentum from their chances and glide through Forest’s defensive lines, causing a last minute scramble in the away side’s box, but nothing came from it. 

A square 1-1 at the end of additional time meant a penalty shootout would decide it. 

Forest’s Claypole took the first penalty, and made it her second of the game as she once again calmly defeated Ramsey from the spot. Gago followed suit, slotting the Blue’s first penalty past Batty. 

Neither side broke under pressure until Ramsey denied Caragh Hamilton in what was Forest’s third penalty. A pattern seemed to be emerging, as Kenzie Weir skied her chance over the Sir Philip Carter Park Stand. 

Forest’s Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah was then denied by Ramsey, meaning Everton’s fate relied on Maz Pacheco who calmly slotted past Batty.

The result continued Everton’s streak against Forest, and with the match ending in 1-1 and a 4-3 win on penalties for the home side, The Reds are yet to beat them. 

Everton now climb to third-place in group A, just above Newcastle who were defeated 7-6 on penalties today by high-flying Manchester City. The Toffees must make sure they capitalise in their next cup match against Newcastle if they want to stay in contention to join Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in the quarter finals.

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