WSL match report: Manchester United 5-0 Aston Villa

Manchester United made it back-to-back wins in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League after sweeping aside Aston Villa 5-0 at Leigh Sports Village.

Ella Toone’s double and goals from Katie Zelem, Lucy Staniforth and Martha Thomas lifted the hosts briefly up to third before Tottenham Hotspur leapfrogged them with a 1-0 win over Everton.

United’s first chance came after five minutes when Alessia Russo hit the side netting from an angle. Two minutes later, Toone received a pass from Vilde Boe Risa and calmly slotted into the bottom corner.

Their lead was doubled when Hayley Ladd was brought down by Hannah Hampton and captain Zelem converted from the spot. Toone and Ladd then both went close, and Russo saw an effort cleared off the line before the break as United dominated the opening 45 minutes. Villa rarely threatened, with corners proving their biggest threat.

The second half started as the first had ended, and on 51 minutes Staniforth made it three after good work from Russo, before the former was forced off with an injury soon after, as was visiting keeper Hannah Hampton.

Alisha Lehmann escaped the United backline in a rare Villa attack but blazed over from outside the box.

Two United substitutes then combined to add a fourth goal – Kirsty Hanson holding off a defender and crossing for Thomas to head in from less than five yards.

Toone got her second with an instinctive finish inside the box to cap off a five-star performance for the hosts, who sit just behind Spurs in the race for the third Champions League place.

To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage, visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com

Match information

Manchester United (4-3-3): Mary Earps; Kirsty Smith, Aoife Mannion, Millie Turner, Katie Galton; Katie Zelem, Vilde Bøe Risa, Hayley Ladd; Lucy Staniforth, Alessia Russo, Ella Toone

Substitutes: Kirsty Hanson for Staniforth 58’, Maria Thorisdottir for Turner 65’, Martha Thomas for Smith 65’, Ivana Ferreira Fuso for Boe Risa 76’

Subs not used: Sophie Baggaley, Niamh Murphy

Goals: Toone 8’, 79’, Zelem 13’ (pen), Staniforth 51’, Thomas 73’

Bookings: Hanson 75’, Ladd 91’

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Hannah Hampton; Sarah Mayling, Elisha N’Dow, Meaghan Sargeant, Maz Pacheco; Ruesha Littlejohn, Remi Allen (C), Ramona Petzelberger; Alisha Lehmann, Emily Gielnik, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah

Substitutes: Chloe Arthur for Littlejohn 56’, Sian Rodgers for Hampton 63’, Olivia McLoughlin for Gielnik 80’

Subs not used: Anita Asante, Jodie Hutton, Freya Gregory, Gemma Davison, Shania Hayes

Bookings: Littlejohn 53’, Mayling 81’, Boye-Hlorkah 88’