That’s it for tonight. Peter Lansley was at the Bescot Stadium for us, so I’ll leave you with his match report. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight.
A beaming Millie Turner is being interviewed
Honestly, everything just went in slow motion! When it hit the back of the net I didn’t even see it! I had to celebrate with the fans, they’ve been incredible all season. I’m just buzzing to get the three points for the team. When I came on, Wilko said to me, “We’ll get a set piece, go and win us the game.”. It was unbelievable. Honestly, words can’t explain that feeling [when I scored].
Villa were frustrated by the award of the free-kick that led to the goal. Having seen a replay, I can understand why – not so much because of Pacheco’s challenge on Boe Risa, but because Boe Risa might bave been offside when she received the ball.
A word on Villa, who contributed equally to a marvellous match. Rachel Daly scored two superb goals and there were fine performances from Jordan Nobbs, Lucy Staniforth and Laura Blindkilde Brown among others. It’ll be no consolation for the next day or two, but they have had an outstanding season.
The updated league table
United still need to beat City, and they still need Chelsea to drop points somewhere. But moments like that can create the most powerful sense of destiny.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man Utd Women | 19 | 39 | 47 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 18 | 23 | 41 |
| 3 | Chelsea Women | 16 | 28 | 40 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 17 | 29 | 38 |
| 5 | Aston Villa Women | 19 | 3 | 30 |
“United have been terrible,” says Ruth Purdue. “Somehow they win it.”
Do you think? I thought they were very good for the first hour, then the last five minutes or so when they finally woke up.
Full time: Aston Villa 2-3 Man Utd
That may well be the game of the WSL season. Manchester United don’t care about entertainment, though, and I doubt Villa will after losing like that.
Ultimately United had to win, and they did after equalising twice and then nicking the match in the final minute of added time! The goalscorer Millie Turner is being mobbed by her teammates, who are all celebrating in front of the United fans. Football, eh.
Updated
The entire United team and staff are going doolally. Zelem curled a free-kick to the far post, where the substitute Millie Turner, 12 yards from goal, ran round Staniforth and powered an immense header back across goal. Hampton didn’t move, and time. Stood. Still before the ball landed just inside the post.
“What a fucking goal!” shouts somebody on the pitch mic. That is incredible.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-3 Man Utd (Turner 90+3)
Oh. My. Giddy. Days.
SUPER-SUB MILLIE TURNER 😱😱😱
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 28, 2023
She has kept Manchester United's title hopes alive in the last seconds!
📺 Watch it live on @bbcthree & @BBCiPlayer#BBCWSL pic.twitter.com/f80X8Cl6HG
Updated
90+2 min Pacheco is booked for timewasting.
90+1 min Three minutes of added time. Ella Toone has been replaced by Vilde Boe Risa; she looks devastated, not at coming off but at the prospect of dropping two points.
90 min After an extended spell of pressure from United, Villa get some respite when Rachel Williams is penalised for something or other.
90 min It’s all United now, but it might be too late. Villa suddenly look extremely tired.
90 min “Hmm,” says Harriet Osborn. “A plucky mid-table side with an undroppable England international are giving Manchester United, having their best season in years, a very hard time. Sounds extremely familiar. This match doesn’t affect my team in the least but boy is this fun!”
89 min United have come alive now. Toone’s stinging cross-shot is superbly held by Hampton, with Batlle waiting for any rebound.
88 min: United substitution Millie Turner is on for Aoife Mannion.
87 min: Great chace for Thomas! Toone wins the ball on the edge of the centre circle and plays a superb angled pass to release Thomas in the inside-right channel. She surges into the area, with no Villa defenders able to get across, but then hits a cross-shot well wide of the far post. I say ‘cross-shot’, in truth it was neither. But it was a great opportunity.
Updated
86 min Garcia wins the ball high up the field and finds Toone, whose slightly indecisive shot is blocked. It’s an end-to-end free-for-all now!
84 min The referee plays a good advantage after a foul on Blindkilde. Lehmann hammers a cross towards Daly, who shoots wide from 12 yards. A half chance at best.
82 min Villa continue to frustrate United, who are eight minutes away from a costly drawfeat.
Updated
80 min The last 10 minutes have been the dullest of the game. Maybe both teams are unconsciously taking a timeout before the inevitably dramatic finale.
78 min Garcia’s first act is to overrun the ball and then take out Staniforth. United have struggled to generate any attacking momentum since Parris’s equaliser.
77 min: Triple substitution for United Marc Skinner has changed his entire front line. Martha Thomas, Lucia Garcia and Rachel Williams, who has scored a couple of very important late goals this season, replace Alessia Russo, Nikita Parris and Leah Galton.
Updated
74 min This really is terrific stuff. There’s so much at stake for United, but Villa are playing as if their season depends on it as well. They have made such good progress under Carla Ward.
73 min Dali’s corner is headed away by Galton.
71 min Dali wins a corner for Villa, who certainly aren’t settling for 2-2.
71 min Parris, deep on the right, drives a flat cross towards Russo on the edge of the D. She improvises a clever looping header, but Hampton backpedals to make a comfortable save.
70 min Zelem is booked for wiping out the impressive Blindkilde.
Updated
67 min You know what’s coming, just embrace it. Yep, it’s the as-it-stands table!
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man Utd Women | 19 | 38 | 45 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 18 | 23 | 41 |
| 3 | Chelsea Women | 16 | 28 | 40 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 17 | 29 | 38 |
| 5 | Aston Villa Women | 19 | 4 | 31 |
Given Chelsea’s run-in, a draw really isn’t good enough for United.
65 min Toone is lucky not to be booked for a foul on Lehmann.
65 min Look, I haven’t seen every WSL game in 2022-23, but this has to be a contender for game of the season.
64 min: Villa substitution Alisha Lehmann replaces Ruesha Littlejohn.
It could have been 3-1; now it’s 2-2. Another Zelem corner caused chaos, and Villa just couldn’t get out. Eventually Blundell clipped a brilliant first-time cross to the far post, where the unmarked Parris powered an impatient header through Hampton from about four yards.
There was no celebration from Parris: she charged straight back to the halfway line, waving to her teammates to follow her.
Game on! 👀
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 28, 2023
A huge equaliser for Manchester United! 😮
📺 Watch it live on @bbcthree & @BBCiPlayer#BBCWSL pic.twitter.com/BieHhRvlO1
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Man Utd (Parris 62)
Talk about fine margins in a title race!
Updated
60 min: Daly hits the bar! So close to a famous hat-trick. Nobbs played a nice reverse pass to Dali on the left of the area. She dragged a low cross towards the penalty spot, where Daly ran onto the ball and crashed a first-time shot off the top of the bar.
Though it wasn’t a sitter, that was probably an easier chance than either of her goals.
59 min Russo swerves superbly away from Littlejohn (I think) before shooting over from 20 yards.
58 min Blundell’s cross is headed on dangerously by Russo towards Toone. The stretching Dali boots the ball straight up in the air, and when it drops Russo can only head wide under pressure. It wasn’t really a chance.
55 min Pacheco’s high, hanging cross just evades Blindkilde at the far post. The Villa bench appealed for a penalty, thinking she’d been shoved, but there was nothing in it.
Updated
54 min This time Staniforth’s driven corner is headed away at the near post.
53 min Pacheco’s superb pass releases Dali on the left. Her cutback is blocked but then Blundell’s attempted backheader goes behind for a Villa corner.
52 min Nothing comes of Zelem’s corner.
51 min Russo lays the ball back to Zelem on the edge of the D, but a heavy touch allows a Villa defender to make an important tackle. United retrieve possession and Batlle wins another corner.
United are playing as if it’s the 85th minute.
50 min: Chance for Russo Zelem’s looping corner is headed over from six yards by Russo. There was no pace on the ball, and it was a crowded penalty area, but that was still a decent chance.
Updated
49 min After 60 seconds or so of probing from United, Zelem swings a dangerous cross towards Galton that is put behind for a corner by Turner.
48 min Plenty of urgency from United at the start of the second half. They need more from their stars, Toone and Russo, who were relatively quiet in the first half.
46 min Peep peep! After a delay due to the presence of a duck on the pitch, United get the second half under way. They really cannot afford to drop any points tonight if they are to win the WSL.
Updated
Talking of controversy, we’ve just seen a replay that suggests Maz Pacheco was indeed offside before making Villa’s second for Rachel Daly. What ya gonna do?
Updated
Half time: Aston Villa 2-1 Man Utd
United’s title challenge is in danger after a thrilling first half at the Bescot Stadium. The remarkable Rachel Daly scored two fine goals either side of Leah Galton’s equaliser, and Villa gave as good as they got against the leaders. There was a whiff of controversy, too, when Hayley Ladd had a second equaliser ruled out for a perceived foul on Hannah Hampton.
Updated
45+1 min Three minutes of added time.
45 min Galton leads a dangerous United break and stabs the ball through to Parris in the area. She knocks it past the last defender Pacheco, who does superbly to get between Parris and the ball and allow it to run through to Hampton.
44 min: Ladd has a goal disallowed! United aren’t happy about this. Ladd headed into the vacant net from Zelem’s right-wing corner, but Galton was penalised for a foul on Hampton.
Villa are extremely fortunate there. Hampton ran into Galton, who didn’t do a huge amount wrong.
42 min Time for the dreaded as-it-stands league table. Even a draw tonight isn’t much use to United.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man Utd Women | 19 | 37 | 44 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 18 | 23 | 41 |
| 3 | Chelsea Women | 16 | 28 | 40 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 17 | 29 | 38 |
| 5 | Aston Villa Women | 19 | 5 | 33 |
40 min Nobbs, who has already been booked, fouls Ladd. Not even for a second yellow card.
United thought there was an offside against Pacheco in the build-up but the goal stands. Staniforth played a simple pass down the left to Pacheco, who crossed first time towards the penalty spot. Daly got in front of Mannion before sweeping the bouncing ball across Earps and into the net. That’s another expert finish. It took a slight touch off Mannion but I suspect it was going in anyway.
A Daly double! 🙌⚽️
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 28, 2023
Rachel Daly is now the joint-top scorer in the WSL!
📺 Watch live on @bbcthree & @BBCiPlayer#BBCWSL pic.twitter.com/nUEqW6jnv3
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Man Utd (Daly 37)
She’s done it again!
Updated
36 min: Chance for Villa! Now a couple of corners in quick succession for Villa. The second leads to a chance for Patten, who heads Nobbs’ looping cross over the bar from six yards.
34 min: Great save by Hampton! A textbook inswinging corner from Zelem causes chaos in the Villa area. A cross-shot is headed clear by Mayling in the six-yard box, and then Galton’s snapshot from 10 yards brings a magnificent reaction save from Hampton, diving to her left.
I don’t know whether the first effort was going in; the second sure as hell was. Hampton flapped at the original corner from Zelem but more than made up for it with the save.
Updated
33 min “It’s still hard to get used to seeing Jordan Nobbs in a shirt other than the Arsenal red and white,” says Charles Antaki. “She’d been at the club, what is it, ten years? (Professor Internet: actually, since 2010.) Many tears on leaving.
“It’s true that she wasn’t getting a guaranteed start, and wasn’t always at her highest level when she came on. Still looks odd though. Arsenal fans wish her the best, obviously, and if it gets her into the World Cup squad, good luck to her.”
32 min Littlejohn is booked for a tactical foul on Parris. The home fans aren’t happy but the referee has been very good so far.
31 min Daly buys a foul from Mannion to relieve the pressure on Villa. Textbook centre-forward play.
30 min Play resumes after about three and a half minutes. Galton is back on the field.
29 min Apparently Daly’s goal was the first United have conceded from a set piece in the WSL this season.
28 min Galton is having her left thigh strapped. Meanwhile, Staniforth was booked for kicking the ball away just after that foul on Galton. She didn’t just kick it away, she blootered it into the stand.
26 min Galton needs treatment after a late tackle from Mayling, which allows both coaches to call the rest of the players over.
24 min: Patten hits the bar! United aren’t happy with the award of a corner to Villa. I’m not surprised, because Villa look so dangerous at set pieces. This one is very to Daly’s goal, with Staniforth again driving a flat cross away from goal. It’s met by Patten, whose looping header swerves away from Earps and clatters off the crossbar.
23 min And here’s Leah Galton’s equaliser.
Aston Villa's lead was short-lived! 😳
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 28, 2023
Leah Galton gets the equaliser for Manchester United.
📺 Watch live on @bbcthree & @BBCiPlayer#BBCWSL pic.twitter.com/drtvQM1Gin
22 min Villa are having plenty of the ball now, and they’re moving it around with confidence. Laura Blindkilde Brown on the right of midfield looks a fine player.
Updated
19 min Villa work the ball nicely on the right, but Littlejohn doesn’t quite have the pace to get away from Galton. This is an excellent game.
18 min Here’s that brilliant opening goal from Rachel Daly.
Rachel Daly, of course!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 28, 2023
A wonderful header for her 16th WSL goal of the season! 👏
📺 Watch live on @bbcthree & @BBCiPlayer#BBCWSL pic.twitter.com/SWlFuY6fsS
16 min Good game, this.
It was made superbly by Ona Batlle, who surged away from Nobbs on the right and curled a wicked cross into the middle. Galton got the wrong side of Mayling at the far post and forced the bouncing ball past Hampton.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd (Galton 15)
That list of leading goalscorers needs updating – Leah Galton has equalised for United!
Updated
14 min The WSL’s leading goalscorers this season
17 Bunny Shaw (Man City)
16 Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
9 Alessia Russo (Man Utd)
8 Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Leah Galton (Man Utd), Beth England (Spurs)
13 min Parris’s shot from the right side of the area is comfortably saved by Hampton. United know they’re in a game here.
11 min After a good high press from Villa, Nobbs has a shot blocked. Then Nobbs is booked for a poor tackle on Nikita Parris.
Updated
It’s Daly’s 16th goal in the league this season, and it was a beauty. Staniforth drove a right-wing corner flat and hard towards the near post, where Daly arrived late and leapt to steer a looping header over Earps and into the far corner. A training-ground routine, executed perfectly. It was such a good header.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Man Utd (Daly 9)
Villa take the lead with an outstanding goal from Rachel Daly!
Updated
6 min Ladd sprays a fine crossfield pass out to Batlle, but her cross is too close to Hampton. Still, United look dangerous.
4 min Another long-range shot from Zelem goes a few yards wide of the left post. She made the opportunity for herself with a lovely first touch away from Staniforth (I think).
Updated
3 min Zelem slips while hitting a long-range shot; it’s straight down Hampton’s throat and she holds on despite an awkward bounce just in front.
It’s been a fast start from both teams, United in particular.
1 min Russo rolls Patten majestically, moves to the edge of the area but then mistimes a low shot that is easily saved by Hampton.
1 min Peep peep! After the players take a knee, Villa kick off from left to right as we watch.
Here come the players. It’s a lovely spring night in Walsall, perfect for a game of soccer.
Pre-match reading
Here’s Karen Carney on an increasingly worrisome issue.
The reverse fixture v Aston Villa was a memorable one 👊🏟#MUWomen || #WSL
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) April 28, 2023
Here’s the latest on the Manchester United takeover
Team news
Aston Villa make one enforced change from their madcap 3-3 draw with Spurs on Sunday. Ruesha Littlejohn replaces Kirsty Hanson, who is on loan from United and thus ineligible.
United are unchanged from the side that beat Arsenal 1-0 nine days ago. Aoife Mannion, so impressive in that match, is preferred to Mille Turner in defence.
Aston Villa (possible 4-1-4-1) Hampton; Mayling, Patten, Turner, Pacheco; Littlejohn; Blindkilde, Dali, Staniforth, Nobbs; Daly.
Substitutes: Leat, Allen, Lehmann, Boye-Hlorkah, Magill, Keitley.
Man Utd (possible 4-2-3-1) Earps; Batlle, Le Tissier, Mannion, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Parris, Toone, Galton; Russo.
Substitutes: Baggaley, Riviere, Tounkara, Turner, Boe Risa, Cascarino, L Garcia, Thomas, Williams.
Referee Lisa Benn.
Updated
Preamble
Now this is a title race. With exactly a month of the WSL season remaining, four teams – you know which ones, don’t play silly buggers – still have a realistic chance of winning the thing. What makes it even more exciting is that there are two different prizes to fight for: the title, and one of the three Champions League places.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man Utd Women | 18 | 38 | 44 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 18 | 23 | 41 |
| 3 | Chelsea Women | 16 | 28 | 40 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 17 | 29 | 38 |
| 5 | Aston Villa Women | 18 | 4 | 30 |
There are 17 games between now and 27 May that involve at least one of the four challengers. That includes two potentially decisive head-to-heads: Man Utd v Man City and Chelsea v Arsenal. Both are on the penultimate weekend, which suggests the fixture computer is a Sopranos fan.
City, Chelsea and Arsenal have all won the WSL since it began in 2011. United haven’t even been in a title race until now, but thus far they have handled the pressure pretty admirably. After three consecutive fourth-place finishes, it would be some achievement to leapfrog all of the Big Three (as was) in one hit.
The Big Four (as is) are separated by six points, but it’s tighter than it looks, because Chelsea have two games in hand and Arsenal one. Even though United are top, the title isn’t in their hands. In short, all four teams have almost no margin for error – not even away to Aston Villa.
Villa have been the best of the rest in the WSL: a dangerous, high-scoring if erratic team. Their last three league results (5-0, 0-3, 3-3) sum up their season. They took four points off Manchester City and, while they have been well beaten in their other games against the title challengers – including a 5-0 defeat at Old Trafford in December – there’s plenty of jeopardy in this game for United. Strictly speaking it’s not a must-win game, but it kind of is.
Kick off 7.15pm.
