Bonner keeps City on top as new era starts

Manchester City got off to a winning start in the post-nick Cushing era to stay top of the Women’s Super League.

With their former manager of six years, Cushing, tweeting his support as he watched from his new home at Major League Soccer outfit New York City FC, interim manager Alan Mahon took the reins for the first time.

A second-minute goal from Gemma Bonner was enough to get them a 1-0 win over bottom-placed Bristol City.

Though not emphatic, their sixth successive league win keeps them one point clear of their closest rivals Chelsea, who have a game in hand.

Bonner’s goal, her third this year, will no doubt have caught the eye of the England manager, Phil Neville, as he ponders squad selection for the Shebelieves Cup next month.

Meanwhile Tottenham battled back from a two-goal deficit to steal a 2-2 draw at home to Everton in the mid-table clash of the night. Despite being behind and finishing with 10 players, after Rosella Ayane was sent off in the 77th minute, Spurs clinched a comeback just a minute later thanks to loanee Emma Mitchell’s equaliser. They survived an agonising eight minutes of added time to clinch the point.

West Ham United were unable to bounce back from their 8-0 drubbing at Chelsea’s hands 10 days ago, losing 2-0 away to

Reading. Manchester United 1-1 drew with Brighton and Hove Albion at the People’s Pension Stadium, a first-minute own goal from Megan Walsh being cancelled out by the visitors’ top scorer Aileen Whelan with a header just before half-time.