Caroline Weir’s sublime chip seals WSL derby win for Manchester City

Caroline Weir’s late strike from distance earned Manchester City a 1-0 win over derby rivals Manchester United and a crucial three points in the race for Champions League football.

Weir’s 81st minute goal in front of a club record home crowd of 5,317 moves City to within two points of third-place United and capped off a dominant performance against their neighbours.

After City’s first run of back-to-back league wins in this season, winning four on the trot from 20th November, the two points dropped as a result of Tobin Heath’s 90th-minute equaliser for Arsenal and a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea had ruptured the momentum of Taylor’s side.

The title may now look beyond them, but the improvement of the team since the lessening of an injury crisis that disrupted the team’s opening fixtures has been clear.

As the sides spread out before kick-off, an upbeat Ellen White walked towards the stands, geeing up the sold-out crowd. To maintain hopes of a top-three finish and a place in the Champions League a win in this game was sorely needed.

Five points separated the two Manchester teams prior to kick off, with United in third and City in sixth. Even a draw would have been hugely damaging for the home team, with Reading and Tottenham between them as well as third-placed United, both with games still to play.

United are also a different beast, having found their rhythm under the manager Marc Skinner. At the Academy Stadium, though, United were without the influential winger Leah Galton and, for a second weekend, the centre-back Aoife Mannion. The new recruit Diane Caldwell, making her second start in Mannion’s place, and right back Ona Batlle struggled to contain the constant threat presented by City winger Lauren Hemp, the