Manchester United Women’s first competitive game could not have ended in sweeter fashion as they beat Liverpool Women 1-0 in the FA Continental Tyres Cup.
Their Group Two North game had been a stodgy affair but was settled by a late Lizzie Arnot goal.
United, managed by the former Liverpool player Casey Stoney, were established this year as part of the men’s club and will start their Women’s Championship (the division below the Women’s Super League) campaign next month.
But they began their new existence in this cup competition against their local rivals, who recruited the former Doncaster Rovers Belles manager Neil Redfearn to take charge this summer. Redfearn is the first person who has previously managed in the men’s Football League to cross over to the women’s game.
The team for United’s first game featured Alex Greenwood, Martha Harris and Siobahn Chamberlain, all formerly of Liverpool.
The only goal came seven minutes from time when Greenwood, the United captain, drove down the left, put a low ball across the face of goal and the Scottish international Arnot forced it into an empty net.
United nearly made it two a minute later when the Liverpool goalkeeper Anke Preuss tipped a brilliant long-range effort from Kirsty Smith on to the bar.
Liverpool came even closer to claiming a point two minutes after that when Christie Murray struck a low free-kick against the inside of the post, and watched as it agonisingly skipped across goal and behind.
Elsewhere, Fara Williams scored a hat-trick in Reading’s 4-1 victory against Durham. Reading are slightly improbably in the north group, which they now lead on goal difference, with a game against United coming up next week. The top two in the five-team groups will go through to the quarter-finals.
In Group One North Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw by Birmingham City. In this competition, in the event of a draw, a penalty shootout takes place in order to win an extra point, which Nick Cushing’s big-spending side took 5-4.
Similarly Leicester City and Bristol City drew 2-2, but thanks to a couple of excellent saves from Charlotte Clarke, Leicester won their shootout 4-2.
Emma Hayes’s all‑conquering Chelsea beat Brighton 3-1, Fran Kirby getting on the scoresheet. Arsenal defeated West Ham 3-1, Crystal Palace and Tottenham drew 1-1 while Lewes thrashed Charlton Athletic 5-0.
