Everton beat Women’s Super League strugglers Crystal Palace 3-0 with a solid display at Walton Hall Park.

A towering header from Justine Vanhaevermaet put the Toffees in front just before the break, with Sara Holmgaard doubling their lead soon after the restart and Kelly Gago added a third in stoppage time.

Palace, though, felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the second half for a foul on Katie Stengel – only for the referee to overturn his decision having played advantage as the striker then stumbled through on goal before her shot was saved.

The Eagles – who beat relegation rivals Aston Villa 3-1 last weekend for only their second league win of the season – had made a positive start.

Clarissa Larisey got clear down the left and cut the ball back across the penalty area to Ashleigh Weerden, who turned to shoot, but Everton keeper Courtney Brosnan made a smart save.

Everton, though, soon built some momentum and took the lead in the 42nd minute.

Holmgaard floated a corner into the six-yard box, where Vanhaevermaet climbed to send a downwards header goalwards – with the ball bouncing in between two Palace defenders on the line.

Palace keeper Shae Yanez then pulled off a brilliant reaction save to palm away another header from Vanhaevermaet, with Martina Fernandez’s follow-up deflected over.

Everton further extended their lead less than 30 seconds after the restart.

Gago got away down the right and sent a ball into the Palace box, where Holmgaard arrived at the back post to head home.

There was then a moment of confusion in the Everton box, when the referee decided to overturn his initial decision to award a penalty.

Stengel was tripped by Vanhaevermaet, but advantage was played as the ball broke to the American forward, who was then denied by Brosnan.

Following consultation with his assistant, referee Adewunmi Soneye, given he had allowed play to continue after the foul, decided to restart with a dropball.

Palace – who started the day a point adrift of Villa at the bottom of the table – looked to find a way back into the match, with midfielder Lexi Potter sending a long-range effort over the crossbar while Larisey continued to offer a threat down the Palace left.

Everton added a third in stoppage time through Gago on the break to put the seal on a fifth WSL win.