Everton 1-1 Aston Villa (4-2 on pens)

Aston Villa Women picked up a point in their second Conti Cup group stage against Everton on Wednesday.

Tash Harding scored her first goal for the club in the opening stages of the second half, but Villa were pegged back when Aggie Beever-Jones levelled.

The tie was decided by penalties, with Everton prevailing 4-2.

Carla Ward made three changes from the side that lost to the Toffees on Saturday.

Olivia McLoughlin started for the second consecutive time in this season’s Conti Cup, playing alongside Kenza Dali in midfield with Rachel Corsie holding just behind.

Meanwhile, Tash Harding came in for her first start in Villa colours. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Kirsty Hanson formed a front three either side of the Wales international.

It took Villa only two minutes to have a clear sight of Everton’s goal.

Dali latched onto Harding’s flick to bear down on goal without challenge.

The French international, however, dragged an effort wide from inside the area and will have been disappointed not to test Emily Ramsey in the Toffees net.

Villa would remain in control throughout the opening exchanges and should’ve gone in front on a couple more occasions.

Rachel Corsie drifted to the back post and side-footed a volley towards goal following a great cross from Dali, but the Scotland captain was denied at close range by Ramsey.

Moments later, the Everton stopper tipped a Boye-Hlorkah effort over the bar to keep the score level.

Villa will have rued their missed chances in the first half, but they quickly put their blunders behind them as they took the lead straight after the interval.

Harding raced through on goal between Everton defenders before beating the on-rushing Ramsey to slot home her first for the club.

Everton didn’t waste much time to level the scores.

Aggie Beever-Jones rounded Anna Leat before slotting home to set up an intriguing final 30 minutes.

Neither team created any chance of note, meaning Villa would go to a penalty shootout for the second straight cup tie this season.

Sarah Mayling and Harding converted their respective kicks, but Anna Patten and Laura Blindkilde Brown saw their efforts saved as Villa had to settle for a solitary point on their travels.