Manchester City go top of the WSL, at least for the next 24 hours, after an ultimately comfortable win in the derby. United were probably the better team at the start and end of the game – but City were vastly superior either side of half-time, particularly the 10-minute spell in which the outstanding Jess Park scored twice and made a third for Bunny Shaw.
United deserve credit for their persistence, which was rewarded with an own goal from Kerstin Casparij, but they never really looked like getting back in the game.
It’s incredible – I don’t think there’s a feeling that comes close to it. I’ve been working really hard and that [a first league goal for City] was the final bit I wanted, and today I managed to get it.
We’ve got so much confidence in each other and that shows on the pitch. That really helps me.
[On the first goal] It was a brilliant pick out and I just thought, ‘Keep it down, keep it down!' I saw it go in and, yeah, the feeling can’t compare.
We’re solely focussed on the league now and today was a very good result. The first 20 minutes were a bit nervy but after that we played well.
You can’t score all the time but as long as you’re working for the team, good things can happen. [On her goal] Me and Jess work a lot in training and we demand a lot of each other. It was similar to the Chelsea goal.
Last year I scored a lot of goals but there was another level for me to go to. I watch a lot of videos with Shaun [Goater] and we look at certain movements I could make to create space either for me or my teammates.
Manchester City go top of the WSL, at least for the next 24 hours, after an ultimately comfortable win in the derby. United were probably the better team at the start and end of the game – but City were vastly superior either side of half-time, particularly the 10-minute spell in which the outstanding Jess Park scored twice and made a third for Bunny Shaw.
United deserve credit for their persistence, which was rewarded with an own goal from Kerstin Casparij, but they never really looked like getting back in the game.
87 min Zelem’s corner leads to a desperate scramble in the City area. Le Tissier scoops the ball towards goal and eventually Williams is penalised for handball.
85 min Garcia controls a long ball superbly, Cruyff-turns Angeldal and finds Toone on the edge of the area to her left. Toone cuts inside and curls wide of the far post.
80 min Geyse wriggles away from Coombs on the right and drives a cross that is crucially cleared by Kennedy. City look, if not nervous, then at least a bit uncomfortable.
77 min The corner leads to a clash of heads between Williams and Greenwood, and the referee blows the whistle a split-second before Geyse smashes a very good chance over the bar.
United will feel they’ve earned that with a determined spell. After a longish spell of possession in the City half, Toone played in the overlapping Bluindell on the left. Her cross took a big deflection off the stretching Casparij and wrongfooted Keating at the near post.
Manchester United keeper Mary Earps celebrates her team's first goal, an own goal scored by City’s Kerstin Casparij. Photograph: Naomi Baker/Getty Images
72 min The corner is played short to Blundell, whose cross isn’t held by Keating. She gets away with it.
Manchester City keeper Khiara Keating attempts to deal with a cross whilst under pressure from Geyse of Manchester United. Photograph: Matt McNulty/The FA/Getty Images
69 min Zelem wins the ball just outside the City area after a good press from United. Garcia has a couple of shots blocked and City break through Fowler, whose long-range shot is straight at Earps.
64 min City play through the United press until Fowler spins Turner and is pulled back. That might have been a yellow card. After an even first 30-35 minutes, the game is painfully one-sided now.
58 min Those early chances for Geyse and Parris seem a long time ago. United’s fragile confidence was shattered by those goals either side of half-time.
57 min: Man Utd substitutions Riviere has admitted defeat, which makes sense with an FA Cup semi-final on the horizon. Aoife Mannion replaces her and Rachel Williams comes on for Nikita Parris.
49 min We know how important goal difference could be in the title race, so City are unlikely to settle for three goals. Fowler wins another corner on the right…
Bunny Shaw has scored after 30 seconds of the second half! Park was too strong for Zelem in midfield and played a marvellous reverse pass to put Shaw through on goal. Le Tissier tried to challenge from the side but bounced off Shaw, who had loads of time to calmly pass the ball into the corner.
It’s her 68th goal for City, which makes Shaw the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Khadija Shaw slots the ball home and puts the game to bed. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images/Reuters
City are in control of the derby thanks to a pair of volleys from Jess Park. United started well, with Geyse particularly dangerous on the right, but City slowly wore them down as the half progressed.
The first goal should have been disallowed for offside, though City will point out that Hannah Blundell probably should have been sent off at 0-0.
It was another volley, though this was much simpler. Fowler took the corner short to Casparij, got the ball back and gave to Hasegawa in space. Her deep, angled cross from the right was headed back across goal by Kennedy, and Park quicker than Le Tissier to volley past Earps from close range.
Jess Park steals in past Maya Le Tissier … Photograph: Matt McNulty/The FA/Getty Images
And volleys the ball past Manchester United’s keeper Mary Earps to score her, and Manchester City’s, second goal of the game. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images/Reuters
Park celebrates with teammate Alex Greenwood. Photograph: Matt McNulty/The FA/Getty Images
40 min: Good save by Keating! The game has come to alive. Geyse rolls Ouahabi on the right and smashes an angry shot from a very tight angle. Keating flies to her left to beat it round the near post.
39 min: Shaw has a goal disallowed! This time the flag does go up as Shaw stabs a loose ball past Earps from four yards. She was miles offside so there’s no controversy that time.
