Leaders Manchester City kept their Women’s Super League title challenge on track with a hard-earned 4-0 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate which saw the home side relegated.
Manchester City scored four times in the second half, Mary Fowler netting twice, Amy Rodgers putting through her own goal and Alex Greenwood adding a fourth in final minute, as Gareth Taylor’s side were made to work hard by determined opponents who were fighting for their top-flight survival.
A 14th straight win saw the visitors extend their lead over nearest rivals Chelsea to six points, but the Londoners – who were knocked out of the Champions League on Saturday – have two games in hand.
If both sides win their remaining fixtures, the title will be decided by goal difference and Manchester City are seven goals better off after this latest success.
A 10th successive home defeat in front of a crowd of more than 8,000 confirmed Bristol City’s relegation less than a year after they won promotion.
Adrift at the foot of the table, they trail West Ham by eight points and have only two games remaining. But they can be proud of their performance after keeping the league leaders at bay for more than an hour.
It took the Citizens 12 minutes to fashion a clear sight of goal, only for Chloe Kelly’s shot-on-the-turn to lack the power to seriously test Shae Yanez, who was then equal to Lauren Hemp’s tame effort as the home side successfully frustrated the title hopefuls.
Although the visitors dominated possession, they were unable to break down stubborn opponents whose work-rate and concentration served them well in a first half that lacked tempo.
Having soaked up pressure, the Robins even threatened to take an unlikely lead after 32 minutes, a swift counter-attack culminating in top-scorer Amalie Thestrup applying a touch to Ffion Morgan’s cross and forcing keeper Khiara Keating into an instinctive save.
Stung into a response, Manchester City applied concerted pressure in the moments leading up to half-time and centre-back Alanna Kennedy headed their best chance over the bar following a short corner routine, while Hemp sent another headed effort straight at Yanez.
The contest followed a similar pattern after the break and the visitors came within a whisker of taking the lead when Laura Coombs met Fowler’s deep cross with a first-time effort that skidded inches beyond the far post.
Yanez was then well-placed to save from Jess Park as Bristol City remained resolute.
It required a moment of individual brilliance to finally break Bristol City’s resolve after 62 minutes, Fowler surging past two red-shirted opponents before unleashing a powerful drive that flew beyond Yanez and into the top left-hand corner of the net. The relief on the visitors’ bench was clear for all to see.
As the home side inevitably tired, so the Citizens stamped their authority and Fowler appeared to get the final touch on a Hemp cross-shot that flew past Yanez, while the unfortunate Rodgers then turned the ball into her own net to put the outcome beyond doubt with 13 minutes to play.
There was still time for the leaders to add a fourth, skipper Greenwood heading in from a Kelly corner in the eighth minute of added time.