Barclays FA Women’s Super League leaders Manchester United have ended 2020 in style by defeating Bristol City 6-1 at The Leigh Sports Village this afternoon.
It was bottom versus top in today’s early kick-off. Bristol City caused a dramatic upset last season when they overcame Casey Stoney’s side 1-0 in Leigh which ultimately contributed to their survival but there was no repeat of that result this afternoon as United showed their class.
United had an early scare when a long ball over the top utilised the lightning pace of Ebony Salmon who tried the lob the oncoming Mary Earps but her effort went just wide.
The home side had the vast majority of possession with the visitors defending very resiliently and hoping to catch them on the break. The Red Devils were limited to several long distance efforts early on and it was going to take something special to beat Sophie Baggaley from that distance.
That is exactly what Leah Galton provided. The United winger had drifted inside with the ball before checking back onto her left foot and she let rip with an absolute rocket which flew into Baggaley’s top corner.
United could, and probably should, have had a second goal moments later when Ona Batlle’s deflected through ball found Tobin Heath who was one-on-one with Baggaley. The United States international shot first time but she was closed down well and the Bristol City keeper pulled off a great save.
The hosts were able to double their advantage until first time stoppage time when captain Katie Zelem floated in a corner and Millie Turner leapt highest to direct her header into the Bristol City goal.
It was more of the same after the interval with Bristol City parking the bus and United looking to break them down. They did exactly that after six minutes of the second period. A corner in from the right instigated a scramble in the visitors’ box. Jess Sigsworth had gone to the ground calling for a penalty, however, she reacted quickly to the dropping ball and thrashed it into the net for the third goal of the match.
Galton then bagged her second goal and the club’s fourth of the afternoon. The winger drove down the left flank and she may have tried to pick out Ivana Fuso in the middle but instead the ball found it’s way into the top corner.
Bristol City were then able to pull a goal back when a long ball in behind, which had caused the defence trouble all game, found Salmon. The Robins number nine saw her first shot saved by Earps but she then converted the rebound to make the scoreline 4-1.
United soon restored their four-goal advantage when Heath pounced on a loose ball and lobbed Baggaley from 30 yards before her second goal came shortly after. The ball was played out wide by Hayley Ladd and Heath nutmegged her defender to put herself through on goal and hammer the ball into the bottom corner.
The match finished 6-1 to the league leaders, a result which when combined with Chelsea’s postponement, has opened up a four-point gap at the top of the table. Being top at the halfway stage of the season is probably better than even Stoney imagined and could be a huge boost psychologically if the club are to remain there until the end of the season. As for Bristol City, it was always going to be a difficult task to get anything from this game and they remain in the relegation spot going into 2021 with a mountain to climb if they are to ensure survival.
About The Author
