Man Utd kept pace in the race for the WSL’s top three with goals from Grace Clinton and Dominique Janssen beating Everton 2-0 on Sunday.
Marc Skinner’s side were the first to kick off on a busy day of league action ahead of the international break. They did their job too, going second in the league ahead of Arsenal’s match against Crystal Palace.
Everton did not always make it easy, especially in the opening 20 minutes. They had a goal inside two minutes ruled out for handball, before Kelly Gago forced a reactive save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who registered her 12th WSL clean sheet of the campaign.
But a horrible error from goalkeeper Courntey Brosnan saw Man Utd score the opener, and Everton never recovered, with some questionable decisions at times that will concern boss Brian Sorensen.
Brosnan came out to collect an Ella Toone free kick – but missed her attempted catch. The ball was cleared off the line, but only as far as Janssen, who slotted home from close range.
Man Utd peppered the Everton area late in the first half – Celin Bizet drawing a great save from Brosnan before Maya Le Tissier lashed an effort onto the top of the crossbar – and it took just 90 seconds after the break for them to double their lead.
Leah Galton – who was taken off with a knock later in the half – drove past Heather Payne inside the box, and her low cross was flicked home by an unmarked Clinton.
Melvine Malard could have added a late third, but her strike was superbly pushed away from Brosnan, as Man Utd moved on to 42 points in the WSL table. Everton remain in seventh place ahead of the remaining games on Sunday.