Match ends, Manchester City Women 3, Everton Ladies 1.
Man City WomenManchester City Women3Everton WomenEverton Women1
Pauline Bremer struck twice for the second game running as Women's Super League title hopefuls Manchester City saw off Everton at the Academy Stadium.
However, Georgia Stanway's 90th-minute own goal stopped City going top of the table on goal difference.
Bremer's double and a Gemma Bonner strike looked set to take City to the summit in manager Nick Cushing's penultimate home league game in charge.
But Stanway found her own net late on to keep Arsenal top on goals scored.
The Gunners can re-open a three-point cushion with victory at Brighton on Saturday and, in a tight title race, City - who registered 24 shots during the game - could well rue their failure to score more.
Having enjoyed a first-minute let-off when City keeper Ellie Roebuck diverted Hannah Cain's shot on to the bar, Germany striker Bremer turned the game the hosts' way.
She lifted a cool finish over Tinja-Riikka Korpela to put City ahead after the ball broke to her six yards out and doubled the lead with a classy curler in the second half.
After both sides hit the woodwork - the unlucky Cain again from distance for Everton and Bremer with an overhead kick for City - Bonner squeezed a far-post free-kick through Korpela's legs to secure victory.
From there, City had multiple chances to boost their goal difference, level with Arsenal on +26, but Stanway and Bremer wasted several openings and Korpela pushed Ellen White's shot on to the post.
Their frustration was compounded when an Everton corner went in off Stanway but it could not prevent City - whose boss Cushing leaves for men's team New York City in February - from recording a third consecutive win.
Line-ups
Man City Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 26Roebuck
- 11Beckie
- 6Houghton
- 4Bonner
- 3Stokes
- 8ScottSubstituted forWullaertat 68'minutes
- 24Walsh
- 19Weir
- 15HempBooked at 54mins
- 9BremerSubstituted forWhiteat 68'minutes
- 10Stanway
Substitutes
- 7Coombs
- 12Toland
- 17Lee
- 18White
- 25Wullaert
- 34Benameur
- 35Veiga Santiago Fidalgo
Everton Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Korpela
- 2Hinds
- 5van Es
- 6George
- 3Turner
- 21ClemaronSubstituted forPikeat 65'minutes
- 13StringerBooked at 64mins
- 7Boye-Hlorkah
- 17Graham
- 8KaagmanBooked at 38mins
- 16CainSubstituted forMagillat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Magill
- 15Pike
- 18MacIver
- 20Finnigan
- 25Coan
- Referee:
- Amy Fearns
- Attendance:
- 1,681
Match Stats
Home TeamMan City WomenAway TeamEverton Women
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away2
- Corners
- Home9
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 3, Everton Ladies 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Gemma Bonner (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Caroline Weir with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Gabrielle George.
Goal!
Own Goal by Georgia Stanway, Manchester City Women. Manchester City Women 3, Everton Ladies 1.
Post update
Corner, Everton Ladies. Conceded by Gemma Bonner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Georgia Stanway (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Lauren Hemp.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ellen White (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Janine Beckie.
Post update
Attempt missed. Caroline Weir (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Demi Stokes.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Ellen White (Manchester City Women).
Post update
Abbey-Leigh Stringer (Everton Ladies) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ellen White (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Janine Beckie with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Georgia Stanway (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ellen White.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton Ladies. Simone Magill replaces Hannah Cain.
Post update
Attempt missed. Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lauren Hemp with a cross.
Post update
Offside, Manchester City Women. Janine Beckie tries a through ball, but Tessa Wullaert is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Everton Ladies) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Molly Pike with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Tessa Wullaert replaces Jill Scott.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Ellen White replaces Pauline Bremer.
