Weir grabs honours for City in first derby
The moment that decided the Women’s Super League’s first-ever Manchester derby had not been the story of the game up until that point, and that will be the consolation for Casey Stoney, the Manchester United manager, after her side’s top-flight debut.
Katie Zelem’s miscued clearance had been their first mistake and if it had come earlier, in those moments when Manchester City were juddering through the gears of their under-par start, it would not have mattered.
As it was, Caroline Weir read the bounce of the ball perfectly and with a crisp connection sent the net bulging. That breakthrough, witnessed by a Super League record attendance, was the first time that City had made their greater experience tell. Thereafter they provided more of the same.
Maybe Stoney will look back on the 56th minute substitution of the impressive Lotta Okvist for Amy Turner, and the ensuing switch to 3-5-2, as the moment the game got away from United.
It would be disingenuous to call United the league’s resident dark horse given the ease with which they won promotion from the Championship last season, but they remain a young team.
There is the caveat that they came up against something of a depleted City side, a front line weaker for the absence of the injured Ellen White – who is likely to be unavailable until November – and still reconfiguring its focal point without Nikita Parris, now at Lyon. By City’s usual standards, their earlier moments were muted. They did not muster a shot on target until the final minute of the first half.
“There are some slight things that we know allow teams into the game if we don’t [do them],” said Nick Cushing, the Manchester City manager. “We want to be expansive and if you don’t retain the ball, you’ll give opportunities for counter attacks and opportunities for teams to create chances.
“For the second half, for 25 minutes, we really showed how we can push a team back and how we can dominate the ball and create chances. We know that’s our level.”
Until Weir drew blood, United kept them at bay without much effort. From that platform, they came close to replicating the breathless, rapier-like interchanging that hallmarked their short residence in the second tier.
The vision of Hayley Ladd and Leah Galton ensured a supply to Jess Sigsworth, who was a menace against City’s back four. She forced Ellie Roebuck into a reaction save after connecting with Galton’s first-half delivery then got the better of Demi Stokes to come close again. Galton also headed inches wide from a Ladd free-kick and nearly beat Roebuck at the near post.
United could have levelled it with eight minutes remaining when the fleet-footed Jackie Groenen beat Gemma Bonner, Steph Houghton and rode Aoife Mannion’s challenge to clink the post.