United win fails to please Stoney
Such are the standards for Manchester United, as the only full-time side in the Championship, that manager Casey Stoney’s assessment of their dismantling of league leaders Tottenham went thus: “I wasn’t pleased, and I don’t think the players should be pleased with that.”
What United captain Alex Greenwood had anticipated would be her side’s “biggest match of the season so far” ended up going the same way as so many others for United’s first professional women’s team. Thanks largely to the majesty of Jess Sigsworth, who moved her goal tally to eight in eight games as she gleefully snatched a double, they had this wrapped up by halftime. “I actually think we should be playing teams off the park more,” Stoney added. “We should be dominating the ball more.
“We’re full-time, I appreciate that, and all the other teams aren’t, but I actually think it was a sensible decision by the club to go the way we’ve gone. Because let’s be honest, we didn’t know what we were going to be able to recruit in a very short time.”
United opened their Championship account by hammering 12 past Aston Villa, but a surprise goalless draw against Durham meant Spurs, the only team in the division with a 100 per cent record before kick-off, were actually the ones with United in their rear-view mirrors. Tottenham are still top, two points ahead of United, who have a game in hand.
Lauren James latched on to the run of Sigsworth to break the deadlock as her low shot slipped beneath Chloe Morgan. James then turned provider, scrambling a delivery across the area for Sigsworth to finish. Sigsworth struck again to convert Katie Zelem’s free-kick
The second half was closer with a goal apiece, Charlie Devlin’s neat finish for the hosts then a consolation header by Angela Addison, the first player to score against United.
Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur Referee