Awesome.

That was the word used by Inessa Kaagman to describe the feeling of scoring her first goal for Everton Ladies.

And the Holland international, who signed for the Blue Girls from Ajax this summer, had every right to be thrilled after her stunning second-half strike in the 3-2 Continental Cup triumph over Reading at Southport’s Merseyrail Community Stadium on Sunday.

The Toffees’ were 2-1 up, with Claudia Walker having bagged a first-half brace, when Kaagman announced herself on the Everton stage in scintillating fashion

After neat interplay involving Walker and Chloe Kelly, the 22-year-old clipped a sumptuous effort over Royals keeper Rachael Laws and into the net to make it 3-1.

Reading struck late to reduce the arrears but Kaagman’s strike proved decisive as Andy Spence’s side wrapped up their first victory of the season.

“It felt awesome,” Kaagman said. “I have my first official goal for Everton and we won - it’s just awesome!

“I played a one-two with Claudia, then I passed to Chloe and she set me up - I saw the keeper off her line and I had to chip it over her.

“I was so happy to see it go in, as you could see by the way I was screaming and cheering!”

The Dutch playmaker had an opportunity to get the Blue Girls off to a flier as she went clean through on goal inside the first minute at Southport.

Royals keeper Laws made a fine stop on that occasion - but Kaagman was not to be denied. She says there was no danger of her head going down after passing up the early chance.

“I’m really pleased with my goal,” she added. “The one-on-one in the first half, if I’d scored that, I’d be totally happy too, but the goal was a beautiful one.

“If you have an opportunity and you miss, you have to get yourself together. We had 90 minutes to go and you just have to keep going.”

Kaagman and Walker may have grabbed the headlines in what was an impressive victory over a Reading team that finished fourth in the Women’s Super League last season, but the Dutch midfielder was eager to emphasise the triumph was a team effort.

Kaagman believes the tireless work ethic and inventive forward play displayed augers well for the Blue Girls’ season.

“We clicked going forward,” she said. “Especially in the second half, we had some more space up front and we were able to link up with Claudia and Chloe up front.

“You have to be a team at all times, both when win we win and we lose. All the players are working their socks off, so if we score, it is for the whole team.”