Mary Fowler’s sharp turn and finish opened the scoring inside 25 minutes at Villa Park, with Lauren Hemp’s late strike cancelling out a Rachel Daly equaliser.
Although we matched our best WSL points tally, Chelsea put six past Manchester United at Old Trafford, so our result wasn’t enough to bring the WSL title back to Manchester, for this season at least.
ASTON VILLA 1-2 CITY | MATCH REPORT
“Obviously we wanted to get a trophy today, but we know what we had to do and we didn’t do it,” Keating began.
“From a personal point of view, I’ve had a breakout season and I had a lot to prove to the world at the start of the season.
“Everyone was asking how I’m going to get on and I hope I’ve shown everyone what I can do, next season in the Champions League we can show what we’re about and win trophies.”
Our academy starlet claimed nine clean sheets across the campaign and with no other player able to better that tally, she won the FA WSL Golden Glove, becoming the first City goalkeeper to win the award since Ellie Roebuck in 2019/20.
It capped off a fantastic individual campaign for the 19-year-old, who has established herself as City’s regular stopper.
“It’s such a proud moment for me and my family,” she exclaimed.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team, as a backline we’ve been excellent this season and rarely let in any goals.”
Speaking to BBC sport after the game, Keating thanked the City Women boss, Gareth Taylor, for allowing to express herself on the pitch.
“I’m quite calm on the pitch - can’t say I am off it!” City’s number one joked.
“But Gareth’s put his faith in me to play how I play and it’s what I needed to go and do what I have done this season.”
ASTON VILLA 1-2 CITY | MATCH GALLERY
Keating has been an ever-present in the WSL, starting all 22 matches for Gareth Taylor’s side and conceding just 15 times.
“I’ve learnt that I can get over the hard times and not dwell on them too long, there were moments this season where I have doubted my ability and what I can do so having the right people around me, knowing it is only a mistake is really important, the more games and the more minutes you play, the more you learn,” she said.
“The team believed in me and I think that showed on the pitch because I had the confidence to do what I have done.
“It is every girl’s dream to play for the club they have supported and to do it at such a young age where I didn’t expect to be in the first team yet, week in and week out, is quite a proud moment.”
