Toone makes it a tough afternoon for Albion

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England star scores twice as Hope Powell's side go down 4-0 to Manchester United in the WSL.

Bruce Talbot

2022-10-16T12:55:00Z

Guemmin Lee and Maya Le Tissier prepare to contest a high ball

Albion endured a tough afternoon at the Leigh Sports Village against the side with the best home record in WSL history.

United have now won 22 of their 31 WSL home matches after chalking up a ninth successive win in front of their own fans.

Albion knew beforehand that they faced a tough test and the game was effectively over by the break when United led 3-0.

England star Ella Toone scored their first two goals before laying on a third for Leah Galton although it needed a brilliant save by Lionesses’ keeper Mary Earps to deny Elisabeth Terland in first-half stoppage time.

Poppy Pattinson hurdles a challenge

The second half was much more evenly contested but sub Adriana Leon matched a powerful run with an emphatic finish to make it 4-0 12 minutes from the end.

United had torn into Albion from the start and deservedly took the lead in the 14th minute. Defender Ona Batlle’s deep cross from the right found Toone making an unchecked run between two defenders and guiding a header past a helpless Meg Walsh.

United had the bit between their teeth and it was no surprise when Toone doubled their lead on 26 minutes. Galton made it with a surging run at the heart of Albion’s defence and spotting Toone’s run. A simple sideways pass and powerful finish doubled United’s lead.

It was 3-0 seven minutes before the break. Toone turned provider on this occasion and Galton fired into the bottom corner.

Elisabeth Terland netted her 13th WSL goal of the season in the first half.

It was a difficult 45 minutes for Albion but they nearly got one back in stoppage time when Earps produced a superb save at full stretch to palm away Terland’s right-foot shot from the edge of the box.

Hope Powell made a change at the break with Vea Sarri replacing Poppy Pattinson as they switched to a 4-4-2 in an effort to get some control in midfield.

Albion enjoyed their best spell of the game at the start of the second half and Lee’s header and Terland’s follow-up shot were both blocked after Katie Robinson’s cross had caused a bit of panic in the United defence.

Jorja Fox controls the ball.

The hosts had struggled to find the intensity of their first-half performance but their strength in depth was illustrated with a fourth goal on 78 minutes when Leon, a summer signing and Canadian international, came off the bench and burst through the centre of Albion’s defence at pace before shooting powerfully past Walsh.