MU Women celebrate a goal during the 9-0 win over London Bees

MU Women 9 London Bees 0

Sunday 06 January 2019 16:35

Manchester United Women began 2019 in devastating fashion by convincingly beating London Bees 9-0 at Leigh Sports Village in the FA Women’s Championship.

The ruthless Reds ran riot with first-half goals from Charlie Devlin, Ella Toone, Lizzie Arnot and Mollie Green putting the hosts in cruise control before the break. Devlin and Toone added to their’s and United’s goal tally in the second half with Lauren James also grabbing a brace from the bench and Katie Zelem adding a ninth goal from the penalty spot.

With United set for the first of three games in a busy week, Casey Stoney made three changes to her starting line-up, bringing in Toone, Arnot and Devlin for James, Amy Turner and Leah Galton.
Lauren James and Lizzie Arnot warm up for the first game of 2019.
The Reds, returning to action after a three-week festive break, were on the front foot from the off and took the lead inside two minutes. Green’s effort from close range hit the post, but Devlin was on hand to follow in on the rebound and net her second goal of the campaign to get Stoney’s side off to the best possible start to the year and the game.

The 20-year-old midfielder was hungry for more and after twenty minutes, Devlin very nearly doubled United’s lead. After twisting and turning her way past several defenders into the box, her effort was denied by the woodwork as the Reds continued to pepper shots at the London Bees’ goal.

Eventually, Toone did indeed double United’s lead through a fantastic team goal that left Stoney smiling on the touchline. Zelem started the move off with a short free-kick to Green who spread the ball out wide to Devlin who had made a run into the box. The midfielder calmly squared the ball across to Toone who had an empty net to finish into.
The Reds were given a tap on the shoulder by the visitors in the first half. Destiny Toussant - who had proven to be a threat in the reverse fixture before being subbed off through injury - went on a mazy run into United’s box, but her shot from an acute angle did nothing more than brush the side netting.

Stoney's side were still hungry for more goals and were able to put the game to bed before the break with two strikes inside two minutes. Firstly, Arnot slotted home at the far post from a brilliant cross by Kirsty Hanson who had been a threat on the wing all afternoon. Moments later, United pounced on a defensive error from the Bees and Green was on hand to expertly slot home her tenth league goal of the season.
Lizzie Arnot slots home at the far post to make it 3-0.
The Reds lost none of the intensity after the break and a fifth goal followed just before the hour mark. Devlin was played through brilliantly and was one-on-one with the keeper. Quantrill did get a touch to the 20-year-old’s shot, but could not prevent the ball from trickling over the line to further assert United’s dominance in the game.

But the hosts weren’t finished there, making it 6-0 after James produced a brilliant through ball to Hanson who then delivered a perfect low cross into the box for Toone who could not miss. James then got in on the act as she charged into the box and confidently lashed home an effort minutes later.

The same youngster then scored her second goal, and United's eighth, after being played through by Toone and holding off a defender to score. The ninth came from the penalty spot with 12 minutes to go. United won a spot-kick after Devlin was adjudged to have been fouled inside the area. Even with Devlin, Toone and James on a hat-trick, it was Zelem that was given the responsibility to take the penalty and she made no mistake as she passed the ball into the net to complete the rout.
Katie Zelem wraps up the 9-0 win with a well-taken penalty.
With a Continental Tyres Cup game against West Ham United to come in midweek and an away trip to Charlton next weekend in the league, the Reds could not have asked for a better possible start to what will no doubt be a busy period for Stoney’s side.

MATCH DETAILS
 

United: Chamberlain; Harris (Palmer 45), M. Turner, Greenwood (c) (Hartley 45), Smith; Zelem, Toone, Green (James 57); Hanson, Arnot, Devlin.
 
Substitutes not used: Sigsworth, Ramsey, Roberts.
 
Goals: Devlin 2, 57; Toone 28, 66; Arnot 39, Green 41, James 68, 73; Zelem 78.

Attendance: 1,889.

NEXT MATCH
 
United's next home game is in a matter of days. FA Women’s Super League club, West Ham United Women, will be the visitors to Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday 9 January 2019 (kick-off 19:00 GMT). Match tickets are on sale at manutd.com/womenstickets.
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