Nikita Parris’s first-half double proved vital as Everton edged past a spirited Notts County side to book a place in The FA Women’s Cup Final.
The Toffees were 2-0 ahead at half-time thanks to Parris’s brace and although Katie Hoyle pulled one back for County just after the break it was Everton who held on to seal their place in the final at stadium:mk on Sunday 1 June.
The two-time winners, who last lifted the trophy in 2010, were ahead after 14 minutes when Parris slipped her marker and headed the ball past Carly Telford from a corner.
They doubled their advantage just before the half-hour when Parris netted her second, the striker capitalising on a fumble from Telford to lash home.
Telford then brilliantly denied Parris a first-half hat-trick after she was clean through on goal, while Rachel Brown-Finnis at the other end was called into action to deny Amy Turner's long range effort.
Hoyle got County back into the game on 56 minutes when she prodded home from four yards, but the equaliser never came as first Jess Clarke hit the post and Dunia Susi skied over the bar to see Everton progress at the Impact Arena.
Notts County (4-4-2): Telford, Walton, Bradley, Scott, Turner; Corsie, Hoyle, Holtham (Roberts 81), Susi, Friend (Whelan 73), Clarke. Subs not used: Draycott, Sweetman-Kirk, Haywood.
Everton (4-5-1): Brown-Finnis, V. Jones, Greenwood, George, Johnson, Chaplen, Hinnigan, D Turner, M. Turner (Whipp 86), K. Jones, Parris. Subs not used: Walsh, Magill, Murphy.
Referee: Elizabeth Simms
Attendance: 638
