Katja Snoeijs’ second-half double saw Everton kick off the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round proper with a deserved 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
After a goalless first half, Karoline Olesen broke the deadlock just before the hour mark with a ferocious strike into the Villa net.
Snoeijs doubled the Toffees’s lead in the 80th minute before netting from the spot seven minutes later to ensure a seventh consecutive away win at Aston Villa in all competitions.
Everton dominated the first half with Sweden international Hanna Bennison spearheading the attack.
She gave Villa a sign of what was to come in the fifth minute as she pounced on a loose ball from an Aston Villa corner and breaking away but she was unable to find a teammate with her pass.
The hosts responded with a shot on target from Kirsty Hanson before Bennison linked up with Heather Payne to force Anna Leat into a save in the Villa goal.
Just after the half-hour mark, Aston Villa were forced to repel wave after wave of Everton attack as the Toffees won four corners in row, coming closest to scoring with their final set piece.
Megan Finnigan received the ball on the half-volley but it went wide to allow Carla Ward’s side time to regroup.
Despite having to sit back and defend for much of the first half, Villa ended strongly with Kenza Dali unable to turn down an opportunity to shoot from the edge of the box.
The French forward’s shot drifted comfortably wide of Courtney Brosnan in the Everton goal to see the sides head into the break level.
Rachel Daly helped Aston Villa begin where they left off after the restart as the ball was pulled back to the Lionesses striker whose shot needed saving by Brosnan.
Seconds later and Everton were back on the front foot, Bennison smacking the post with a fine shot from the edge of the box.
The Toffees’ pressure finally told when Olesen rifled the ball into the roof of the net with 59 minutes gone having received the ball from the influential Bennison.
Adrian Leon had a golden opportunity to net the equaliser for Villa but her deft touch bounced just wide of a diving Brosnan and agonisingly past the post.
Snoeijs doubled Everton’s lead with a strong finish to move the visitors closer to the fifth round before confirming their place from the spot having won the penalty after being brought down in the box.
