Rachel stars as Everton reach cup final

Cup Final date: Rachel Brown-Finnis and Everton are to take on Arsenal in the FA Womens Cup Final on June 1st

The 33-year-old Burnley-born Everton keeper played an instrumental role as the Toffees beat Notts County 2-1 at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena on Sunday to reach the final, where Arsenal will lie in wait at Stadium MK on June 1st.

Two first-half goals from Nikita Parris proved enough for the Blues, although County’s Katie Hoyle pulled a goal back on 55 minutes.

The game had been in doubt due to persistent rain over the weekend, coming through had threatened to postpseveral pitch inspections, but Parris, Everton Ladies’ Player of the Year, gave Everton the lead after 14 minutes, heading into the top corner.

And Parris doubled the advantage after a fumble from Carly Telford.

Telford denied Parris her hat-trick goal, before Brown-Finnis preserved Everton’s two-goal lead, diving to her left to keep out a long range ffort from Amy Turner just before half-time.

The second half was only 10 minutes old when Brown-Finnis was at it again, palming a Jess Clarke shotaway from goal, before the Magpies got themselves back into the game.

A header back into the Everton box fell to the feet of Hoyle who struck her first-time effort past Brown-Finnis and into the net to give her side a lifeline.

Clarke then hit the woodwork, before forcing another neat save from Brown-Finnis.

And Everton held firm to reach their first final since 2010, when they beat Arsenal 3-2 after extra time.

For Brown-Finnis, it is a fourth FA Cup Final - with her first coming back in 1996 as a 15-year-old with Liverpool, when, after a 1–1 draw with Croydon at The Den, Liverpool lost on penalties after extra time.