Manchester United keep WSL title bid on track with late win at Aston Villa

In the best traditions of Fergie-time, substitute Millie Turner headed home the winning goal in the fourth minute of added time to help Manchester United stretch their lead at the top of the Women’s Super League to six points.

Mark Skinner had reckoned it was good to play ahead of title rivals – on the proviso United won. With Manchester City playing Leicester on Sunday and the Champions League semi-finalists, Chelsea and Arsenal, not in WSL action this weekend, this was United’s opportunity to put down their marker.

They may have played two more games than City – and three more than Chelsea, whom they lead by seven points – but the nature of this United comeback could yet power them to their first top-flight title.

Rachel Daly twice gave Villa the lead with superb finishes in the first half, against the hitherto meanest defence in the division, yet it was the shot she crashed against the crossbar at 2-1 early in the second half that may yet haunt the England left-back.

Having thrashed Villa 5-0 at Old Trafford in December, and the hosts having not won for three games, this could have looked an appetising fixture. But Carla Ward’s side are enjoying a fine season, with fifth place theirs for the taking.

In Villa’s last game at the Poundland Bescot Stadium this season, two records went with the first of Daly’s goals: Villa’s first goal against United in the WSL was also the first time this season Skinner’s team had conceded a top-flight set-piece goal.

Yet Villa dominated United from crosses into the box throughout the first half, with Lucy Staniforth particularly productive. On her first appearance against the club she left in January, the former Birmingham City midfielder’s corner invited Daly to time her run superbly