Manchester United Women beat Everton Women 2-0 to maintain their unbeaten record against the Toffees.
The visitors started the brightest as Everton swung in a corner and after a bit of ping ball in the area, Katja Snoeijs poked the ball home. Thankfully for United, she was ruled to have handballed it before firing in the opener after just three minutes of play.
Shortly after, Grace Clinton played in a beautiful lob in behind the defence that was met by an outstretched Elisabeth Terland, who almost guided the ball into the net but it nestled in the side netting.
United started in wasteful fashion, as a loose ball was cut out by Everton’s Clare Wheeler who ran at the home side’s defence and laid the ball to Heather Payne who fired a fierce effort on goal but Phallon Tullis-Joyce was equal to the shot and got down low to parry it away to keep the scores level.
The Toffees continued to push and another corner almost resulted in a goal as Kelly Gago turned the ball across goal and it was well cut out by United’s in-form American keeper.
Marc Skinner’s side composed themselves well and swung in a free kick after 22 minutes. In what seemed a routine catch, Courtney Brosnan dropped the ball and it finally fell to Dominique Janssen, who gratefully smashed in the opener at the Leigh Sports Village.
United were in the groove now. A good move resulted in Jayde Riviere crossing the ball into the box and Clinton laid it off with a delicate touch before Celin Bizet fired in a good effort. But the Everton keeper redeemed herself with a fine save to keep the deficit at one.
Just before half-time, captain Maya Le Tissier was inches away from doubling the home side’s lead. She confidently carried the ball forward and fired from long-range and her thunderous strike cannoned off the crossbar, in what would have been a sensational goal.
The half-time whistle blew with United certainly the happier of the two teams.
Whatever Marc Skinner said to the team clearly had the desired effect as United came out of the traps flying and doubled their lead after only two minutes.
Clinton found some space in the box and expertly tucked away Leah Galton’s fine cross into the box.
It was the young midfielder’s seventh strike of the Women’s Super League season in what has been a fantastic campaign to date.
Jannssen then fired from distance as United aimed to put the visitors to the sword.
United continued pushing as Ella Toone slipped in Grace Clinton, but the goalscorer couldn’t make the most of the chance and blazed her effort over the bar.
As some subs were made from both sides, the game meandered for a while without much happening at either end, with United content to hold on to their valuable lead.
Substitute Melvine Malard threatened with her pace on the break on a few occasions but struggled to beat the offside trap or deliver the final killer ball.
Everton also continued to press for a route back into the game but failed to muster many real chances of note as the match ticked into the final 10 minutes of play.
On 84 minutes, the relatively quiet Toone controlled the ball well in the box but her effort skewed wide of the left hand post.
United almost had their third when Rachel Williams chested down a ball by Aoife Mannion into the box for the onrushing Malard, who met it but could only fire right down the keeper’s throat.
The full time whistle blew in what was another huge win for Marc Skinner’s team.
The victory means United are now ten points ahead of fourth placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand which they will play away to Brighton and Hove Albion later today. With only four fixtures left to play in the Super League season, it seems Skinner’s side can start to dream of playing in the Champions League next season.
Featured image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images
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Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
