Manchester City kept their 100 per cent record going with a win over Sunderland on Friday night. Nikita Parris and Toni Duggan both scored in a game that produced end to end football as neither team was going to give up goals easily.
Parris puts City ahead at a perfect time
Manchester City pressed right from kick off. Their first chance came just after 17 seconds as they quickly went forward. However there was a first minute scare for them too when Sunderland had an attempt and Karen Bardsley was unable to claim it properly.
The first half was end to end with not much possession between the two teams. Both had intent to win it so they could try and create some chances. The first real chance for City came from Parris, but her shot went over. City further pressurised Sunderland after a shot from Jane Ross and a header from Kosovare Asllani, which was gathered by Rachael Laws as they struggled to break through.
Around the half hour mark, Sunderland started to get their chances with Stephanie Roche playing a part in two big ones. She was the runner-up last year for Goal of the Year and could have scored a pretty spectacular goal when her shot from outside the box almost ended up in the top right corner, but it dipped just as it flew over the bar.
Manchester City finally found the break through when Parris scored her first goal of the season with an emphatic finish; Jill Scott picking her out to strike home. There was a slight scare later on when the scorer went down after a collision with Victoria Williams, but she came back on after treatment and would wreak havoc down the right all game.
Super sub Duggan wraps it up
Sunderland made a change at half time with Abbey Joice on for Keira Ramshaw. That change seemed to help them a bit too as they started off the second half well, though it started like the first as well because City were also ready and raring to go.
Sunderland looked dangerous for a while when Beth Mead broke forward and they spent a while in City's half. They had a free kick and a possible red card turned down after Stephanie Houghton just caught Mead with a trailing leg, and that was a crucial decision that may have cost Sunderland the game.
Later on, the Lady Black Cats had to make two substitutions in quick succession after Williams and both Hayley Sharp went down and couldn't continue. Megan Beer and Charlotte Potts had to come on for them as Carlton Fairweather cursed his luck in the dugout.
Man City really started to settle into the game after these unfortunate occurrences for the hosts and looked the better side with 20 minutes to go. It was a substitute of their own that would seal victory too, Duggan scoring just 102 seconds after coming on. Demi Stokes unselfishly passed to the forward and her shot was driven into the far bottom corner to put some room between City and Sunderland on the scoreboard.
The win means that Manchester City keep their unbeaten run going as they look to avenge their final day title loss. They play in a couple of days against Doncaster Belles, who are bottom of WSL 1.