Camila Saez’s own goal helped Everton claim a 1-1 draw against fellow Women’s Super League strugglers West Ham at Walton Hall Park.

Anouk Denton opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Everton wasted several chances to draw level.

But they got their first goal of the season after Melissa Lawley’s cross deflected off Saez.

While Megan Finnigan and Katja Snoeijs had shots cleared off the line, it finished all-square between the league’s two bottom sides.

Snoeijs might have put rock-bottom Everton ahead early on after breaking clear and rounding Kinga Szemik but West Ham’s defence scrambled back to snuff out any problem.

West Ham then went in front with their first real sight at goal as Viviane Asseyi laid off to Denton, who thrashed into the top corner for her first goal in the WSL.

Riko Ueki blasted wide from distance and Asseyi saw a shot blocked while at the other end, Everton missed a gilt-edged chance as Sara Holmgaard miscued a free header wide of Szemik.

Snoeijs was then denied by Szemik as Everton ended the half on top without being able to level.

Emma Bissell delivered a teasing cross into the area that no Everton player was able to get on the end of at the start of the second half.

That was Bissell’s last impression as she and Heather Payne made way for Veatriki Sarri and Toni Payne before the hour mark.

Sarri made her presence felt by thumping narrowly wide and it was another substitute in Lawley whose cross cruelly ricocheted off Saez and ballooned over Szemik for Everton’s leveller.

Szemik denied Sarri late on while Finnigan and Snoeijs both saw shots cleared off the line as West Ham held on to secure a point.