Starting the match, Payne contributed to Everton’s defensive resilience, helping her team secure a clean sheet before being substituted in the 81st minute.
Maren Mjelde gave Everton the lead in the 16th minute, while Honoka Hayashi sealed the victory with a goal in the 59th minute.
Despite late pressure from Aston Villa, including efforts from Ebony Salmon and Rachel Daly, Everton’s defense held firm to secure their fourth win of the season.
The victory lifts Everton to eighth place in the WSL standings with 16 points, as they aim to build on this momentum in their next fixture.
Discover more from BrainBurst
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.