Take a trip down Memory Lane and relive five unforgettable victories for our women’s team…
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Arsenal 0-1 City, 2014
The one that started it all…
Reaching the 2014 Continental Cup Final in our debut season in the top flight was a remarkable achievement for Nick Cushing’s side.
Following the relaunch and professionalisation of our Ladies team, City would compete in the FA Women’s Super League for the first time with a team constructed of semi-professional and England international stars.
While our league form proved mixed, City enjoyed better fortunes in the League Cup, winning all bar one of our five group games to finish top.
That feat set up a semi-final clash with the much-fancied Chelsea but – playing at Hyde’s Ewan Fields – City produced a stoic performance to edge past the London outfit with a Toni Duggan strike, booking our place in the Final to face Arsenal: the most successful women’s side in the country.
It was no secret that City headed into the encounter at Adams Park as underdogs, with the Gunners clinching all four previous editions of the tournament.
Cushing’s side held firm though to thwart the North London outfit and bagged the crucial goal with 17 minutes of normal time remaining, as Izzy Christiansen rose to head home Krystle Johnston’s cross and clinch City’s first piece of major silverware against all odds.
City 2-0 Chelsea, 2016
Our first title triumph...
Having clinched a crucial 1-0 triumph at Arsenal, City welcomed reigning Champions Chelsea to the Academy Stadium in the knowledge a win or draw would clinch our very first WSL title.
The Londoners had pipped Cushing’s side to the crown by just two points the previous year, while City had denied Emma Hayes’ side league glory on the final day in 2014!
With plenty at stake and a firm rivalry emerging, a record crowd turned out to cheer the home side on, on a day in which City were simply a class above their counterparts.
Jill Scott opened the scoring in the first half with a deflected header from Duggan’s corner, and the provider turned goalscorer in the second half, as Duggan despatched a penalty after Lucy Bronze was hacked down by Gilly Flaherty.
The spot-kick marked Duggan’s ninth goal in nine games against Hayes’ side but more importantly, secured the three points needed to lift the WSL trophy for the first time.
A 1-1 draw against Birmingham the following week would complete an unbeaten league campaign to cap a superb season in which City also lifted the Conti Cup for the second time with a 1-0 extra-time victory over the Solihull side.
City 5-2 Arsenal, 2017
Five-star City…
One of the most entertaining contests of the WSL era unfolded when Arsenal visited the Academy Stadium in September 2017, as Cushing’s side produced a sensational display to bag five against the Gunners!
Jane Ross continued her fine scoring form against the North London outfit, sweeping home Abbie McManus’ delivery to open the scoring before Emma Mitchell levelled in first half injury time.
City would head into the break with the lead however, as captain Steph Houghton smashed home a loose ball in the box to find the net against her former Club.
Heather O’Reilly headed in a quickfire equaliser two minutes after the restart – and almost turned the game on its head when Jordan Nobbs struck the crossbar – but City responded magnificently to storm to victory.
Georgia Stanway put the hosts back in front, latching onto Scott’s through ball and slotting past Sari van Veenendaal, and Christiansen pounced to dispossess Nobbs and curl beautifully in off the post to open a two-goal cushion.
Scott added gloss to the scoreline, collecting Claire Emslie’s cutback and arrowing the ball into the bottom corner to seal a sensational win for Cushing’s side.
City 1-0 United, 2019
A milestone moment for the women’s game…
The opening day of the season always sparks much hope and optimism for the season ahead, and the maiden fixture of the 2019/20 campaign bore extra excitement and anticipation: the first professional women’s Manchester Derby.
Following United’s title-winning promotion from the Championship, the pair met for the very first time in WSL history and fittingly to match interest and meet demand, the clash was hosted at the Etihad Stadium – home of the Premier League Champions.
A league record crowd of 31,000 witnessed the two sides lock horns in a thoroughly entertaining affair. The Reds shaded the first 45 but found Ellie Roebuck in top form to preserve our clean sheet, and the home side rallied in the second period and opening the scoring with an absolute thunderbolt from Caroline Weir.
The Scotland international collected a loose ball 25 yards out before unleashing a rocket into the top corner to send the City fans into raptures and claim the bragging rights – and crucial three points – in the first Derby duel.
City 10-0 Ipswich Town, 2020
A perfect ten…
The FA Cup quarter-final draw proved kind to City, pitching the holders against the lowest-ranked side left in the competition: Ipswich Town.
The Tractor Girls – of the FA Women’s Premier League South East Division One – had enjoyed a remarkable journey to reach the last eight stage, emerging victorious in six rounds, defeating Royston Town, rivals Norwich City, AFC Basildon, Chichester City, Portsmouth and Huddersfield.
Backed by an impressive away following of 400 fans, Ipswich knew the odds were stacked against them and produced a spirited display against a ruthless City side, who bagged ten goals for the second time in the Club’s history, after the men’s side had achieved the feat in 1987.
On that day at Maine Road, there were three hat-tricks scored and history repeated itself, as Pauline Bremer, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park all netted trebles – with Laura Coombs also on the scoresheet – to register a highest-scoring win for our women’s side in professional competition.
