Manchester United maintained their unbeaten Women’s Super League start with a goal in each half to earn a comfortable win over Aston Villa.
The early leaders recorded a sixth win in eight to go four points clear thanks to cool finishes from Leah Galton and Ella Toone at Bescot Stadium.
But victory came at cost after the early loss of Dutch international Jackie Groenen with a head injury.
The midfielder was replaced in the 11th minute after trying to play on.
After a heavy fall, Groenen got back to her feet only to go down again 90 seconds later.
After completing an on-field assessment, the United medical team decided that she could not continue and, although Groenen argued, she was replaced by Lucy Staniforth.
United then went in front when Galton’s right-foot shot found the bottom-left corner.
But, despite having the lion’s share of possession and creating more chances than their Midlands hosts, it took until the 89th minute for Toone to seal the points when she latched onto a rebound 30 yards out to neatly chip home.
Line-ups
Aston Villa Women
- 29Weiß
- 4Franklin-Fraiture
- 5N’Dow
- 15Haigh
- 13Siems
- 10Petzelberger
- 21EwersSubstituted forSymeat 80′minutes
- 6Asante
- 7FollisSubstituted forAbreu Sousa Silvaat 57′minutes
- 22HaylesSubstituted forHuttonat 80′minutes
- 17HaywoodSubstituted forArthurat 67′minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Rogers
- 3Ale
- 8Arthur
- 11West
- 12Hutton
- 14Syme
- 19Abreu Sousa Silva
- 23Hanssen
Man Utd Women
- 27Earps
- 20Smith
- 4Turner
- 21Turner
- 17Batlle
- 12Ladd
- 14GroenenSubstituted forStaniforthat 11′minutes
- 77Heath
- 7Toone
- 11Galton
- 16JamesSubstituted forRossat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ramsey
- 3Okvist
- 5McManus
- 10Zelem
- 13Fuso
- 19Ross
- 37Staniforth
- Referee:
- Abigail Byrne
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 2.
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Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 2.
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Chloe Arthur (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
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Tobin Heath (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Chloe Arthur (Aston Villa Women).
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Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 2. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal.
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Foul by Jane Ross (Manchester United Women).
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Chloe Arthur (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Leah Galton following a corner.
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Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Caroline Siems.
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Attempt blocked. Tobin Heath (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leah Galton.
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Attempt saved. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ona Batlle.
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Attempt saved. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ona Batlle.
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Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Emily Syme replaces Marisa Ewers.
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Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Jodie Hutton replaces Shania Hayles.
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Attempt saved. Amy Turner (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ona Batlle with a cross.
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Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Diana Silva (Aston Villa Women).
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Attempt missed. Ona Batlle (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Attempt saved. Tobin Heath (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kirsty Smith with a cross.
