Finch Farm graduate Scott Phelan was jubilant after overseeing Everton Women's win over West Ham United
Honoka Hayashi of Everton celebrates scoring her team's winning goal with teammates Inma Gabarro, Ornella Vignola and Rosa van Gool during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park. Photo by Jess Hornby - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images
Honoka Hayashi of Everton celebrates scoring her team's winning goal with teammates Inma Gabarro, Ornella Vignola and Rosa van Gool during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park. Photo by Jess Hornby - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images
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Everton Women’s interim head coach Scott Phelan heralded Sunday “a perfect day” after leading the Blues to a home win over West Ham United.
Honoka Hayashi’s strike in the seventh minute was enough to give the Blues a third consecutive victory and move them towards mid-table in the Women’s Super League.
It was a win that means the club will head into next weekend’s FA Cup Merseyside derby filled with confidence after a difficult first half of the season that formed the backdrop to Brian Sorensen’s departure earlier this month.
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Hayashi converted Hannah Blundell’s low cross to extend Everton’s superb form after wins over Aston Villa and London City Lionesses. It was a big moment not just for the side but for Phelan, too.
The 37-year-old, a product of Everton’s academy who played through the age ranges with England’s youth setup, acknowledged that to oversee a win at Goodison Park was like a ‘fairy tale’.
He added: “I obviously had the home games in mind when I looked at the fixtures and you are thinking: ‘I just know, we are at Goodison now, it might mean a little bit of something.’ And when the day actually comes around and you are here… personally that was an amazing opportunity to be able to lead the team and for the team to go on and win is just a perfect day.
“I said to the players at one point we thought this was going to be bricks and rubble, so the fact we have continued the legacy of Goodison Park - and now we have the honour of playing here and hopefully winning games of football here - it is something we need to grab hold of and make the most of for hopefully a long time.”
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