Manchester City beat Chelsea 2-0 at the Academy Stadium to seal their first-ever FA Women’s Super League 1 title thanks to goals either side of the break.
Over 4,000 fans packed themselves into the ground, with Nick Cushing’s side only needing a point to take the title away from their London rivals.
In a cagey first half, chances were few and far between until City got themselves a succession of corners which finally led to the opener.
Man City 2-0 Chelsea
FA Women's Super League 1
Sunday 25 September 2016
Academy Stadium, Manchester
Toni Duggan’s floated ball in was flicked on by Jill Scott and eventually went in off Chelsea captain Katie Chapman.
Chelsea struggled to respond against the home side’s watertight defence and City came out flying after the break, Nikita Parris going close to a second.
The clincher did arrive minutes after though when Lucy Bronze was felled by her England team-mate Gilly Flaherty, and it was left to Duggan to step up and send Becky Spencer the wrong way from the spot.
Chelsea’s best chance didn’t come until it was too late; sub Beth England ran through on goal but could only hit her effort straight at Karen Bardsley.
And City held out to spark joyous scenes at full-time.
City now have the chance to make it a league and cup double when they take on Birmingham City in next Sunday's FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup Final.
Tickets are priced £7 for adults and £3 for concessions.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Karen Bardsley; Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton, Jennifer Beattie, Demi Stokes; Keira Walsh, Jill Scott, Izzy Christiansen; Nikita Parris, Jane Ross, Toni Duggan.
Substitutes: Kosovare Asllani for Parris 72, Tessel Middag for Duggan 84, Daphne Corboz for Walsh 90.
Substitutes not used: Marie Hourihan.
Goals: Chapman (og) 34, Duggan (pen) 50.
Bookings: Christiansen
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Rebecca Spencer; Hannah Blundell, Niamh Fahey, Gilly Flaherty, Millie Bright; Jade Bailey, Katie Chapman; Karen Carney, Ji So-yun, Eni Aluko; Gemma Davison.
Substitutes: Ana Borges for Blundell 57, Bethany England for Aluko 70, Drew Spence for Ji 80.
Substitutes not used: Hedvig Lindahl, Fran Kirby, Claire Rafferty.
Bookings: Chapman, Borges
Referee: Sarah Garratt
Attendance: 4,096
