Strong start proves fruitless as United take points

Despite a strong showing in the first half at Leigh Sports Village, Manchester United pulled away to register a 3-0 win in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday afternoon.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce was in superb form in the early stages to deny Martha Thomas and Drew Spence but, after a positive first 40 minutes in Manchester, the hosts took control of proceedings on the stroke of half-time as a quick-fire brace from Elisabeth Terland handed them a two-goal advantage.

Maya Le Tissier converted from the penalty spot, after Ashleigh Neville was penalised for a handball inside the box, to further extended United’s lead early in the second half to condemn us to defeat on the road for the first time this season.

Robert Vilahamn made three changes to the starting XI that faced Liverpool last weekend as Bethany England, Charlotte Grant and Olga Ahtinen all came in for their first start of the season, replacing Hayley Raso, Amanda Nilden and Maite Oroz who were all ruled out with injuries.

Although we had a number of players unavailable for the clash against United – six players sidelined - we started positively in Manchester and drew the first save out of Tullis-Joyce after just four minutes as Thomas, who linked-up well with England, shrugged off Le Tissier before getting a shot away from a tight angle, but the United shot-stopper was alert to block her effort. Spence was then inches from breaking the deadlock just minutes later as the midfielder sent a curling effort from the edge of the box towards top left corner, although she was denied by an out-stretched Tullis-Joyce once again.

Eveliina Summanen’s corners from the left were causing problems for United inside the box, but we failed to capitalise on the opportunities, while, at the other end, Becky Spencer was called into action to push over a powerful effort from Grace Clinton. However, arguably against the run of play after a strong showing from us, Elisabeth Terland connected sweetly to a Celin Bizet cross to send a ferocious volley past Spencer to break the deadlock. Four minutes into the seven added on, Terland grabbed her second of the game and for United as she headed home from close-range.

Then, eight minutes into the second half, United were awarded a penalty after Neville was penalised for handball inside the box. Le Tissier stepped up and calmly slotted into the bottom right corner, leaving us a big hill to climb. Substitute Matilda Vinberg was bright spark down the left-hand side when she was introduced on to the pitch, while Ella Toone fired over the bar following a quick counter-attack from the hosts.

Spencer produced an unusual save with her feet to deny Rachal Williams from the inside the box while, despite the scoreline against us, we still tried to push forward with Spence seeing two of her efforts saved by Tullis-Joyce once again. The midfielder raced on to a pass into the centre of the box before firing a low-driven shot towards goal, but the shot-stopper was down quickly to save. Our number 24 then tested Tullis-Joyce from distance but, once again, she managed to push her effort around the post to maintain a third consecutive clean sheet for the hosts and back-to-back defeats for us in the WSL.

Match data

Goals: Man Utd – Terland 44, 45+4, Le Tissier 59.

Yellow cards: Man Utd – Toone 64.

Referee: Lisa Benn.

Stadium: Leigh Sports Village.

Weather: Sunny with light cloud and a gentle breeze, 10 degrees.

Attendance: 4,473.