FA Women's Cup: Arsenal 2-1 Everton - Report

By Joe Brewin at Meadow Park

Arsenal Ladies eased into the semi-finals of the FA Women's Cup with a deserved 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday.

Second-half strikes from Ellen White and Kim Little ensured a safe passage through for Laura Harvey's side, who continue their excellent start to the domestic campaign.

A disjointed first period saw the tie level at the break, before Arsenal turned on the style in the second half to book their place in the final four.

Everton ensured a nervy conclusion with a scrappy late goal but in the end it was not enough for Mo Marley's visitors as the 2010 winners crashed out of the competition.

Harvey made several changes to the side that brushed aside Liverpool in the Continental Cup last week, with White among those returning.

It did not take long for the hosts to take control. Everton's Toni Duggan volleyed wide early on but Arsenal soon took the initiative.

White headed a Little cross just wide inside five minutes, before the visitors hit back with Fara Williams' fierce drive from range.

Steph Houghton was a threat down the right-hand side once more, testing Rachael Brown from inside the area with a rasping drive.

Harvey's side were turning up the heat and Everton were twice forced to defend dangerous balls into the box from White.

Houghton went close once more when she latched onto Little's neat header over the top, only to see her lob drop narrowly wide of the target.

And Little was involved once more as she fired narrowly over from distance.

But Brown was rarely tested in an edgy half as the two sides headed into the break level.

Arsenal leapt out of the traps after the interval and immediately set about finding the opener.

White was involved twice from the restart, first crashing over Rachel Yankey's cross at the back post before heading over unchallenged after good work from Jayne Ludlow.

But it was the visitors who should have taken the lead just moments later. Duggan found space through the middle with only Emma Byrne to beat, but stabbed her effort narrowly wide.

And they were made to pay on the hour mark when Harvey's side finally broke the deadlock.

Yankey's pinpoint cross was met by the head of White, who made no mistake this time to power home from close range.

Just a minute later they had a second. Yankey was involved once more as she slalomed through midfield, releasing Little who skipped past her marker and found the bottom corner with aplomb.

It could have been three moments later via Little, but the Scot's eventual effort fell narrowly wide.

Everton grabbed a late consolation when Michelle Hinigan capitalised on a Byrne error but it's Harvey's side who go through to the final four.