Everton recorded their first-ever Women’s Super League win over Manchester City as a 2-1 victory dented their opponents’ title hopes.

City missed the chance to close the gap between themselves and leaders Chelsea to three points as first-half goals from Lucy Hope and Honoka Hayashi put Everton firmly in control.

Mary Fowler converted an 89th-minute penalty but it was too little, too late for City and Everton held on to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

With Chelsea dropping points for the first time this season in a 1-1 draw against Leicester on Saturday, Gareth Taylor’s City side failed to show their title ambitions.

The visitors enjoyed most of the possession, but Everton were a constant goal threat.

Katja Snoeijs pounced on a loose Fowler pass in the sixth minute before charging towards City’s defence and firing over.

Toni Payne constantly hassled Laia Aleixandri and Alanna Kennedy and it was the Everton striker who won the corner that led to Hope’s opener.

City initially cleared the set-piece, but Sara Holmgaard regained possession and delivered a cross that was guided into the bottom corner by the head of Hope.

Payne raced onto a through ball six minutes later but her attempt to round Khiara Keating was managed well by the Manchester City goalkeeper.

Everton struck another devastating blow to City’s title hopes as half-time approached with Hayashi having time to control Melissa Lawley’s pass in the box to drive in a second via a deflection.

Snoeijs had the chance to sink City even further on the stroke of half-time but could not curl her shot around Keating.

City’s hold of the ball stayed the same after the break as Everton continued to enjoy space on the break, with Kerstin Casparij’s sliding block on Payne’s 55th-minute effort keeping the scoreline down.

The visitors were without both the WSL’s leading goalscorer Bunny Shaw and Vivianne Miedema and their lack of threat in the box was on show for most of the afternoon.

Manchester City’s only real opportunity throughout the 90 minutes came from the penalty spot after Yui Hasegawa was brought down needlessly by Karoline Olesen. Fowler converted with conviction.

Everton kept City at bay in the final minutes to record a first victory against them at the 17th attempt and ensure Taylor’s side remain six points off Chelsea heading into the winter break.