Everton Ladies Head Coach admitted his side “brought their A-game” despite suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.
The Blue Girls have regularly gone toe-to-toe with the more established clubs since their return to WSL 1 and did so again at Kingsmeadow against the title challengers.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk hit the post from the spot and Chloe Kelly saw a free-kick well saved by Hedvig Lindahl as Everton edged the first half.
But it would be the hosts who snatched victory in the 83rd minute as Chelsea left-back Jonna Andersson rifled a Fran Kirby pass into the top corner.