Second-half goals from Isobel Christiansen, Nikita Parris and Toni Duggan secured the win to give the Blues the perfect start to their cup adventure and put the Club top of Group Two on goals scored.
It was a throughly deserved victory as the visitors dominated from start to finish, once again producing some excellent football and creating a host of chances. The triumph was City’s third in a row as Nick Cushing’s side continue their pursuit of a second piece of silverware.
Reflecting on the result in South Yorkshire, goalscorer Christiansen told mcfc.co.uk: ”We’re delighted with the win.
“We knew it was a tough place to come – Doncaster are top of the FA Women’s Super League 2 and they’ve proven themselves in the women’s game so we’re really happy.
“We played some exceptional football at times. We always trust in our system that we will create chances and it paid off tonight.
“Doncaster did well in the first half to contain us but we stayed patient and confident in our own ability and that shone through in the end.
“I was delighted to get on the scoresheet. I always seem to score in this competition but obviously I’m just pleased we’ve got the win. I’d had a few chances in the last few games so it was about time I stuck one away - not that I could really miss it!
“The team goals were fantastic – everyone played a part – and that’s really reassuring, moving forward as a squad.
“We’ll go into the rest of the competition with confidence that we can get out of our group and go one step further to retaining the trophy.”
Eager to kick-off this year’s competition with a win, Cushing opted to make just one change to the side that comfortably despatched Bristol Academy on Saturday with new recruit back in March, the Blues had ran out 3-1 winners in the FA Women’s Cup.
Against a side that had beaten them in the opening game of the Continental Cup last season and in currently good form though, City faced a tricky test to emerge from South Yorkshire victorious.
Buoyed by their two successive wins and clean sheets however, the away side started brightly and should have taken a lead into the break.
The Blues dominated possession in the opening 45 minutes but were found lacking in the final third on a number of occasions. While the build-up was slick and impressive at times, the end product proved elusive.
Inside three minutes, Christiansen had blazed over, before Parris drilled wide and Lucy Bronze skewed an effort off-target.
Duggan then saw two attempts saved by Nicola Hobbs – impenetrable in the first half – and Demi Stokes drove a shot over the bar.
At the other end, the hosts’ only real chance of note came from Bethany England. Sue Smith – Doncaster’s main threat throughout – had done well to deliver to the midfielder, who headed goalward but Karen Bardsley saved well.
After that scare, the City onslaught continued. Jennifer Beattie twice headed wide and Hobbs made an unorthodox stop from Steph Houghton’s curled free-kick.
That proved to be the last goalmouth action of the half though and City headed into the dressing rooms ruing a host of missed chances but hoping for another period of domination in the second half.
Three minutes after the restart, their efforts were rewarded, when the ball found Stokes in space on the left. The defender delivered the perfect cross to Christiansen and the scorer of the winner in the 2014 Continental Cup final volleyed into the bottom corner to give her side the lead they deserved.
Pleasingly, the visitors continued to press after breaking the deadlock and 20 minutes later, they doubled their lead.
It was an excellent team goal. Christiansen carved open the Doncaster defence to slip Corboz through and the American unselfishly squared for Parris, who tapped into an empty net.
The victory was sealed with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Duggan’s original effort was well-saved before Parris tried her luck. That shot was deflected and eventually fell to Duggan, who made no mistake with the finish to complete a brilliant night for the Blues.
Next up for City is a league trip to table-topping Chelsea Ladies on Sunday evening (6:30pm BST).
