Manchester City Women 2-4 Manchester United Women: Ella Toone scores a hat-trick after sloppy fouls are punished in entertaining WSL derby

Ella Toone scored a hat-trick on her return to WSL action as Manchester United Women punished sloppy errors from Manchester City Women with a 4-2 win in a pulsating Manchester derby.

Toone missed matches in November and December with a calf injury, and continued her goalscoring return to form with an impressive hat-trick at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester United were sharper from the start and Toone scored the first goal in the 14th minute. Elizabeth Terland missed her strike, but the England midfielder was lurking to head home. Leah Galton (21) then doubled the lead soon after, heading home from close range as Man City failed to clear a corner kick.

Gareth Taylor’s side continued to struggle, as a poor pass from the back – just seconds after Terland had almost seen him score – allowed Toney to score her second goal (36′). She collected a loose pass before simply shooting past her England team-mate Chiara Keating.

But the recovery seemed to have begun at the end of the first half, as Manchester City scored two goals to return the score to 3-2. Vivienne Miedema (40) – who returned to the league from injury – nodded home from Mary Fowler’s cross, before Rebecca Knaack (45 + 3) scored her first Premier League goal since joining the club a few weeks ago.

However, 10 seconds into the second half, another moment of forgetfulness allowed Keating to complete her hat-trick. The goalkeeper remained too long on the ball from kick-off, and a ball was deflected into the Toon’s path. She won the foot race against Keating and scored into the open net.

Despite all the mistakes they made at either end, Manchester City managed to convert shots and chances in a dominant second half. However, some inspired moments from Phallon Tullis-Joyce prevented them from making a real comeback.

It is Manchester United’s first away win in a Manchester derby, and sends them above Manchester City into third place in the WSL table. Taylor’s side – who have now lost two consecutive Champions League matches – drop to fourth place, two points off the Champions League qualifying places.