Manchester United Women have beaten bottom of the league Bristol City 2-0 as they got back to winning ways in the league.

It was a fight for Bristol from the start as Leah Galton and Geyse ran rings round the Robins defence.

Aspin chopped down Galton in the second minute but came off worse in the challenge and United couldn’t capitalise on the free kick.

Five minutes later, Geyse wriggled free of her defender and cut it back to Parris whose strike was well saved by Clark in the Bristol goal.

Again United came, Galton and Turner both denied by the gloves of Clark as she saved her team from falling behind in the first half.

Aspin succumbed to the earlier knock she had picked up and had to be stretchered off in the 26th minute.

The stoppage disrupted United’s rhythm and for a short time Bristol saw more possession.

Just before half-time Bristol had their best chance of the game but Earps got down low to stop a header from sneaking into the bottom corner.

United made the breakthrough in the second half as 50 minutes in Hinata Miyazawa bagged her first goal for the club. Her deflected strike from outside of the area wrong footed the keeper to break the deadlock.

Five minutes later and United doubled their lead as Ella Toone delivered a beautiful cross which Parris rose to head past Clark.

Toone had two assists now but wanted a goal herself, she found the net in the 63rd minute but it was ruled out for offside despite it coming off a Bristol defender last.

Two minutes later and she squared a ball to the onrushing Parris who slid and tapped it home but momentum kept pulling her forward and she collided nastily with the goal post.

Again the linesman’s flag was up but it was a tight call, it would be Parris’ last involvement of the game as she went off to receive treatment.

It was a dominant display from United who probably could’ve boasted a bigger scoreline if not for Clark’s heroics between the sticks.

Team: Earps, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell, Riviere, Zelem, Miyazawa (Ladd 67), Parris (Malard 67), Toone, Galton (Williams 77), Geyse (Garcia 78)

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A hat-trick for Nikita Parris, who had returned to the starting lineup, and a first goal for Geyse helped United secure the points on a cold, wet night in Leigh.

Marc Skinner had promised some rotation before their opening game of the Conti Cup campaign and there were seven changes from the team that started the 2-2 draw against Brighton on Sunday.

United were pressing well as Everton tried to play out from the back. Rachel Williams pounced on a lose pass on the edge of the area and got her shot away but former United keeper Emily Ramsey recovered well to make the save.

However, you sensed something was coming and two quick goals for Manchester United put them in the driving seat.

The first came in the 28th minute, some good build up play, one-two touch football from Hinata and Riviere led to the latter floating in a lovely cross which found the head of the on-rushing Nikita Parris.

Just over a minute later and Riviere was there with the assist again, floating a cross in from the right and United’s top scorer so far this season, Rachel Williams, headed it past Ramsey.

Williams was having a brilliant season so far, averaging a goal every 27 minutes.

United were hungry for more in the second half as United’s front three pressed Everton’s back line.

Ramsey, with a sloppy pass, was almost caught out by Parris. Williams did manage to poach the ball from the Toffees on the second time of asking but blasted it over the bar.

There were more goals in this game though and United’s third came from tonight’s Captain Hayley Ladd following a corner.

Blundell played it short to Le Tissier who whipped it into the box, flicked it on to Ladd who was able to bring it down and smash it into the back of the net.

In an attempt to at least rescue some pride from this match, Everton made four changes in the 61st minute but it was too little, too late for the Merseyside team whose mood was as miserable as the Manchester weather.

Nikita Parris got her second of the night in the 68th minute as Naalsund nutmegged her defender and passed it along the ground towards Williams who stepped over it allowing Parris to take the shot and the back of the net bulged.

Tullis-Joyce who was making her United debut, had had a quiet night and wasn’t really called into action until the 75th minute when she got down low to stop a shot sneaking in to the bottom corner.

And though it showed a glimpse of what the Toffees could do, moments later Parris completed her hat-trick as she and Toone countered well. The keeper came out to United’s number seven, who squared it for Parris to tap into an open goal.

Everton had given up a long time ago and allowed Geyse to make it six and get her first goal in a competitive match for United.

She received the ball just past the halfway line and the visitors failed to close her down as she broke into the box and found the space to slot it into the far corner. The celebration looked to be one of relief for the Brazilian striker, who joined United in the summer.

United came again, with another substitute keen to get on the scoresheet as Leah Galton hammered it into the roof of the net. Geyse cut it back from the byeline and found Toone, whose shot was blocked. It came back to Galton who powered it home for United’s seventh.

It was a ruthless performance from United, who had been desperate to get back to winning ways and keep a clean sheet in their first Conti Cup group game.

Team: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere (Rabjohn 62), Blundell (Galton 62), Evans, Le Tissier, Ladd (Zelem 73), Hinata (Toone 72), Naalsund, Garcia, Parris, Williams (Geyse 73)

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Miyazawa won the ball back early on after Rivière’s long ball was cut out by the Everton defence.

Less than five minutes in, Malard had a brilliant chance blocked by the head of Finnigan. Malard tried to attack the rebound but Brosnan claimed it, plucking it out of the sky.

Moments later Miyazawa had a chance but it landed on the roof of the net. The away side was growing in confidence.

Jayde Riviere had had a shaky start to her United career but she was the Reds’ brightest spark in the opening stages of this fixture, causing havoc down the right for the Everton defence.

She forced a corner for United and Zelem delivered, it was initially cleared but only as far as Le Tissier who headed it back in towards Malard who headed past Brosnan in the 14th minute.

Moments later and with United keeping the pressure on, Parris almost made it two but her header was just wide.

For all Rivière’s good work, it was almost undone as she was easily pushed off the ball and Wheeler got away from her. Her cross went past everyone and was whipped in again from the right but Galli headed wide.

The hosts were growing into this game and enjoying a good spell of possession themselves.

35 minutes in, there was a chance for Everton as Bennison forced Earps to palm her shot from range over the crossbar.

Three minutes later Sorensen had a chance as United gave the ball away in a dangerous area. Earps got down low to push it out for a corner.

Just before halftime, United tried to double their lead as Blundell and Parris combined well but Parris’ smart header was saved well by Brosnan.

United came out seeking to extend their lead and there was a chance. Malard was on the edge of the area. She was the first to the ball. She turned and took the shot but couldn’t get the power behind it and it was an easy catch for Brosnan.

Three minutes later, Ella Toone’s curling shot was just a little too high as she looked for the top corner.

United extended their lead in the 58th minute. Zelem delivered a lovely long ball into the six-yard box and Parris was there to head home. Brosnan got fingertips to it but not enough to keep it out.

Still United kept pushing but there were tired legs in the visiting team.

The addition of Rachel Williams brought a new spark to United and she got the Reds third just as Everton were trying to build something.

Parris was pressuring the Everton defence and won it back on the byline, passing it to Williams in the six-yard box. Brosnan looked to save initially but Williams made sure it went over the line as the Toffees keeper spilled.

Everton seemed to give up after that and Williams got her second in the 85th minute. It was another poachers goal which is what United had been lacking in the first few weeks of the season.

Miyazawa wanted to get on the scoresheet deep into injury time but Brosnan made a great save to deny the World Cup Golden Boot winner.

Less than a minute later though, Parris got her second of the match after a perfect pass from Guerrero allowed her to control it with her chest before chipping it over the keeper.

There was a late corner for Everton which would be the last action of the game. United dealt with it well to keep their first clean sheet of the season.

Team: Earps, Blundell (Evans 74), Turner, Le Tissier, Riviere, Zelem, Toone (Guerrero 83), Miyazawa, Garcia, Parris (Naalsund 93), Malard (Williams 73)

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United were quick out of the blocks, launching an attack in the opening minute, but it was well defended by Spurs.

A series of corners ensued for the Reds but they were without set-piece queen Katie Zelem, who was suspended.

Spurs’ first shot came a few moments later as they nicked possession in a dangerous area, but it was well held by Earps.

Moments later a Spurs player rounded Earps, but Le Tissier tracked all the way and dived to block the shot.

At the other end a good chance fell to Parris but her header was saved, the follow-up shot was just wide.

There was an opportunity for Russo as space opened up on the edge of the area but she was hesitant to take the shot on herself and the attack fizzled out.

Just after half an hour on the clock United finally made the breakthrough, Galton latched onto a loose ball from Amy Turner and found the far corner.

Minutes after the restart Boe Risa had a lovely shot well saved by the keeper.

However, United made the most of the resulting corner as they took it short, then whipped it back in and Russo turned it in.

United let Spurs claw back into the game as they countered and got a shot off, luckily it rattled the woodwork.

England fizzed it across the face of goal, eventually Tirner turned it behind for a corner.

United kept the pressure up in the second half and it didn’t take long for them to find the net again.

This time it fell kindly to Parris for a tap in.

Boe Risa then made a beautiful run, dodging through the Spurs midfield. She played a lovely ball to the feet of Toone, but her shot was blocked.

A rare defensive error almost gifted Spurs a way back into the game but those getting worried were forgetting Earps was in goal and she pulled off a fantastic double save to protect her clean sheet.

United were awesome to watch, the work rate was phenomenal. Batlle was fighting for every ball and putting in some wonderful deliveries into the box.

When Thomas came on, she slipped and still managed to nutmeg the player marking her, she recovered and again put in a good delivery.

United’s emphatic win was witnessed by 5,796 fans, basking in the Leigh sunshine!

On to Wembley!

Team: Earps, Le Tissier (Mannion), Blundell (Riviere), Batlle, Turner, Boe Risa, Ladd, Toone (Williams), Galton (Garcia), Parris (Thomas), Russo

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Manchester United come from behind to beat Villa 3-2 this evening to extend their lead on top of the table.

It was a tough game, with United coming from behind twice and Villa rattling the woodwork twice.

United were only in the lead for about thirty seconds of the entire match, but it was enough to take all three points back to Manchester.

The first chance fell for United’s captain Katie Zelem, but her shot went straight into the arms of Hannah Hampton.

It was Villa who made the breakthrough though from a corner, Rachel Daly with a powerful header into the top corner.

United had a few attempts to get back into it, but their chances lacked conviction, until eight minutes later.

Batlle played a superb ball picking out the onrushing Galton, who came sliding in at the far post to get the equaliser.

It was end to end stuff as both teams showed an attacking threat. A corner for United caused Villa problems as they cleared it off the line straight to Galton, who smashed it goalwards, but it was well saved by Hampton.

Villa nosed ahead again though as Pacheco delivered to Daly, whose sublime first-time strike nestled into the far corner of the net.

Hayley Ladd thought she’d equalised just before half-time but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Hampton, although it looked like she fell over her own player.

Villa had a chance to make it three in stoppage time of the first half when they were given a free kick by the corner flag, but luckily Nobbs’ shot was just wide.

In the second half United played with a sense of urgency. Parris went on the attack but her cross went behind for a goal kick.

Moments later, Russo had a chance but her header floated over the bar.

United were giving Villa too much space, especially Daly, and she got a shot off again that rattled the crossbar.

It was the wake-up call the Reds needed and at the other end Parris headed in a cross from Blundell. She hurried her team back to the centre, she could sense that there were more goals in this game with just under half an hour to play.

At the other end, Galton was having to get stuck in a lot tonight, helping out her defence as she cleared away another Villa corner.

United switched their entire attack in what was a bold and risky move from Skinner. It almost paid off as Thomas found herself onside and in loads of space, but it was like she hadn’t decided whether to square it or slot it into the far corner and it rolled out for a goal kick.

Toone had the next chance but her last involvement in the game was a shot that Hampton clung onto well.

Deep into injury time with United’s title hopes fading, they won a free-kick. It was a superb delivery by Katie Zelem and substitute Millie Turner rose the highest. Hampton could only watch as her looping header found the corner!

Turner peeled away for a knee-slide celebration, her teammates piling on top of her. The bench and back room staff erupted – complete euphoria for the visitors as they clinched the three points at the death.

The team celebrated with the away supporters at the final whistle. It was huge three points to keep their dream of making history alive.

Team: Earps, Mannion (Turner 87), Batlle, Le Tissier, Blundell, Zelem, Toone (Boe Risa 91), Ladd, Russo (Williams 77), Parris (Thomas 77), Galton (Garcia 77)

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Manchester United women are preparing for their first FA Cup semi-final since they reformed in 2018.

Tomorrow they will take on Brighton at Leigh Sports Village and will be hoping to progress through to their first final at Wembley, where they would face either Chelsea or Aston Villa.

Previously, their best cup run came in their inaugural season where they reached the quarter-final stage of the competition. This was followed by a fourth round exit the next season and consecutive fifth round exits since.

This season, they beat Sunderland in the fourth round 2-1, before thrashing Durham 5-0 and Lewes 3-1 to make it to the semis.

Nikita Parris is United’s top goal scorer in the FA Cup this season, having scored four of those ten goals. Russo and Boe Risa have scored two each whilst Galton and Blundell have each scored one.

Brighton will be their toughest test so far in this cup run but the fellow WSL side were defeated by the Reds two weeks ago by four goals to nil in the league.

As The Athletic points out, United are probably favourites to progress to the final due to the fact Brighton are engaged in a relegation battle in the league and that United have beat them 4-0 twice already this season.

Brighton have had three managers so far this season. Hope Powell departed in October 2022 after an 8-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Her successor, former Bayern Munich coach Jens Scheuer, left in March this year after taking charge of just six games.

Now they are under the guidance of Melissa Phillips, whose main focus is to keep them in the WSL.

If United reach the final it would show just how far they have come since 2018. This is what they have been building for and working towards.

Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, Chelsea are favourites to beat Aston Villa, but Carla Ward’s side have had a good season so far and could cause an upset.

Chelsea have won four of the last eight FA Cups. If one of the other three teams were to win the trophy though it would be the first time since 2012 that one of ‘the big three’ (Arsenal, Chelsea or City) hadn’t claimed the cup.

United fans should feel quietly confident tonight but no doubt at kick off tomorrow those on the terraces will be feeling the nerves!

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Four Manchester United players have made Sarina Wiegman’s final squad before the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Mary Earps has once again been called up and will surely be Wiegman’s first choice keeper once again.

Hannah Hampton, Sandy MacIver and Ellie Roebuck are her other choices between the sticks, with United’s Emily Ramsay missing out this time.

In defence, Maya Le Tissier finds herself back in the squad, a much deserved call-up.

The 20 year-old has been solid at the back for United all season, putting in some vital blocks and making some good interceptions in the game against West Ham last weekend.

In midfield, Ella Toone cements her place in squad and more then likely in the starting line up. After her heroics as a substitute in the Euros last summer she has proven herself to be someone Wiegman can rely on.

Missing out this time are Katie Zelem and Nikita Parris. Parris has not been at her best for the Reds in recent months but Zelem has been key for United, particularly in set-pieces.

United fans took to social media to share their dismay at their exclusion.

Up front, Alessia Russo is once again picked alongside former Red Lauren James, as well as Chloe Kelly, Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp, Jess Park and Katie Robinson.

England’s first game of the break is against Brazil on April 6th in the women’s finalissima before they take on Australia in a friendly.

It’ll all be good practice for the Lionesses, who are one of the favourites to win the World Cup, which takes place at the conclusion of the domestic season.

However, it is a good indication as to who Wiegman is thinking of taking to that tournament so Zelem and Parris will have to work hard for the Reds in the last few games of the season to prove themselves to the England coach.

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The first real chance came for Lewes as they squared it but a vital block from Thorisdottir sent it out for a corner.

United couldn’t clear the corner and another chance for Lewes sent Earps diving across her goal but it was wide.

It was a busy five minutes and United survived the scare and got a chance of their own at the other end. The ball from Batlle was guided into the bottom corner by Russo.

Russo was all over this game, getting in to good positions and fizzing in some good balls across the goal.

A lovely bit of team football from United almost gave Russo another goal. New signing Naalsund found Russo, who was forced wide. She laid it off to Boe Risa, who played it back into the path of Russo, but the keeper gathered.

In the second half there was an early chance for the Reds as Toone played a lovely ball to Thomas, whose header was well saved by the keeper.

Toone found Batlle out on the right, who delivered a brilliant cross in to Boe Risa. The Norwegian headed it past the keeper to make it two.

An unusual mistake from the usually flawless Earps gifted Lewes a goal. As the home team tried to press she was hurried into a clearance and gave it straight to Kraft, who looped it over the retreating England number one and it dipped under the bar.

Parris had a chance to restore United’s two goal lead after she found herself one on one with the keeper, but she scuffed her shot wide.

But moments later she atoned for her miss, finding the target from a tight angle and slotting it past the keeper to make it three.

Deep into injury time, United thought they had a fourth following a free kick but it was ruled out for a foul.

It was a good win for the Reds but probably took more effort than Marc Skinner was expecting. Lewes played well and had their fair share of chances.

Team: Earps, Thorisdottir (Mannion 64), Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Boe Risa, Zelem, Garcia (Toone 45), Naalsund (Ladd 27), Thomas (Parris 65), Russo (Williams 86)
 

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Manchester United Women have beaten Sunderland 2-1 in the FA Cup.

Sunderland made a strong and physical start to the game, pushing forward and making some good challenges.

Despite Sunderland’s energy, United did get an early shot off from Parris but she was flagged offside.

Blundell went on a fantastic run, dodging the Sunderland midfielders that looked to make a challenge. She fed it through to Williams on the edge of the area but one on one with the keeper, she couldn’t chip it over the shot-stopper. It went up in the air and Toone tried to head it in but it landed on the roof of the net.

United were growing into this game and had a number of opportunities from a corner as Toone took a shot that was well blocked followed by Williams but again Sunderland put their bodies on the line to deny the visitors.

United were wondering how on earth they hadn’t broken the deadlock as the pressure they kept up was relentless. They had chance after chance around the 28 minute mark but no one could bundle it over the line as Sunderland again made some crucial blocks.

In the 39th minute Parris made the breakthrough that was needed. A cross floated in from Batlle and Parris waiting centrally in the box hit a side footed volley past the keeper.

On the stroke of half-time, an opportunity presented itself to Toone but unfortunately the keeper saved and managed to pounce on the loose ball before United could turn it in.

United showed more attacking intent in the second half but it looked like it may be another frustrating half of missed opportunities.

A chance came for Williams following a short corner from United but her header was just wide.

Another attempt from United saw some brilliant link up play to penetrate Sunderland’s defensive line but the resulting shot was tame and straight at the keeper.

Completely against the run of play, Sunderland equalised from a corner. They crowded out Earps and managed to head it into the net.

United responded instantly, Nikita Parris again, found herself in a prime position in the six yard box and fired it high into the back of the net, assisted by Boe Risa.

Cascarino was introduced for her United debut just before the Reds’ second goal and almost made an instant impact as she had the chance to get a shot away but it curled just wide.

Cascarino had another chance four minutes from time as she received the ball in space in the area but she blasted it over the bar. In a moment that highlighted the differences in women’s football and in the two teams positions in the football league, the ball was lost as it landed on the roof of a bungalow and bounced off into the garden of a neighbouring house.

United didn’t make it easy but it was a good win for them to progress in the FA Cup. A glimpse of Cascarino shows that she may have a very promising future with the Reds.

Team: Earps, Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell, Toone, Boe Risa, Zelem, Parris (Garcia 82), Thomas (Cascarino 68), Williams

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“Nobody cares how you save the ball, you just have to save it,” Mary Earps says as she reflects upon the European Championship.

The Manchester United shot-stopper hasn’t been out of the spotlight since she helped the Lionesses to be crowned champions of Europe last Summer, excelling for both club and country ever since.

In a new documentary released on Sky entitled ‘Lionesses: How Football Came Home’ Earps is joined by five of her teammates as they relive that history making moment and dive deeper into their own stories of how they came to be on that podium.

It has been well documented, before the tournament even began, that Earps’ comeback-kid story is an inspiration to many but through the documentary we realise just how inspirational and instrumental she is to the rest of the team too.

Earps reflects upon her first taste of the beautiful game, playing for West Bridgford Colts under the watchful eye of her father.

It was here where she found her shot-stopping skills, “Everybody takes turns in goal. I was so bored, I wanted to be in amongst the action.”

“She continued, “I was doing cartwheels and my dad was standing by the goal.”

West Bridgford Colts was a mixed boys and girls team and Earps soon stood out from the rest of the team when she took her turn between the sticks.

“There was a penalty against us, I was a young girl who wasn’t afraid of diving around in the mud, I wasn’t afraid of the ball and so I saved it,” she remembers. “That’s how the great love affair started.”

On her social media, Earps has continued to share snaps of her family coming to watch her games and she says that her parents were always behind her. “My parents were really supportive of everything I wanted to do,” she said.

Known now as being the player who’s first out to training and last to return to the dressing room after a match, this work ethic has been instilled into Earps from a young age. “I was doing homework in the car, getting up really early, going to bed really late.”

She made her England debut on 11 June 2017, in a 4-0 victory over Switzerland but she never quite fully established herself in the squad.

In 2019, whilst still at Wolfsburg, she was called up for the Women’s World Cup in France under manager Phil Neville but didn’t play a single game.

Her teammate and now Captain, Leah Williamson, suffered the same fate. “We’ve been through that journey together. She didn’t play in France and when I looked in her eyes, I saw the pain and she felt the same for me.”

It’s hard for a goalkeeper, only one can play at a time and you want to stay consistent with the choice if you can throughout a tournament but after working so hard, it was gutting for Earps to have to watch each game from the sidelines.

England teammate, Nikita Parris, who now lines up alongside Earps at Manchester United said, “She’s been through so much as a football player, she’s had really high highs and gone through really low lows.”

Even more heartbreaking was when she was dropped from Neville’s squad altogether and began to accept that perhaps her international career was over.

When Sarina Wiegman took over Earps was given another chance and not only worked her way back into the squad but cemented herself as England’s number one.

“She doesn’t mess around, there’s no fluff with Mary,” Williamson smiles.

Throughout the tournament, various players stole the limelight, individuals that stood out and more often than not, particularly when the goals were coming in thick and fast, it was those in front of her that everyone was talking about.

In the opening sold-out game against Austria, a nervy start for England ended in a 1-0 victory thanks to a scrappy goal from the eventual Golden Boot winner, Beth Mead. But the scoreline only told half the story.

The first ten minutes, England were pinned back in their own half. Earps had to be switched on and alive to the danger.

Although Mead’s goal in the 17th minute settled the side, it didn’t stop Austria from attacking. With 12 minutes left on the clock, only Earps could deny them their equaliser after Dunst’s powerful strike saw Earps at full stretch, push it wide.

“There’s not a lot you can do when you see the ball flying past you, you just have to hope she’s going to be there, and she was.” Williamson said.

Even in their most convincing victory, their 8-0 thrashing of Norway, it was Earps who laid the foundations. The opening ten minutes once again saw England’s goal peppered by the opposition.

After riding out the storm England kicked on, but her teammates at 6-0 up at half-time had a stark warning for Earps.

She recalls, “I remember Bronzey turned round to me and said, ‘It doesn’t mean nothing without the clean sheet.'”

In the quarter finals, the Lionesses found their first real test as they conceded and went behind for the first time in the tournament.

“I hate conceding a goal, regardless of whether it’s a friendly or a European Championship final,” Earps said of the moment they found themselves behind.

“I always want to keep clean sheets but that’s not the reality, it’s not how the world works. There’s ups and downs along the way, you have to be able to accept them and move on.”

At 1-0 up, Spain kept on coming and could have easily made it two with Del Castillo’s strike if it wasn’t for the palm of Earps, who had recovered well from the disappointment of conceding.

Six minutes from crashing out of their home tournament, Earps’ teammate Toone proved to be the super sub hero who got the equaliser and in extra time it was Georgia Stanway who broke Spanish hearts.

Here, a note should be made about how Wiegman’s tactical substitutions and game management turned things around for England. Never has a coach’s influence been more evident than in this match.

With the fans having a renewed sense of belief, attention turned to Sweden in the semi-final and once again, England’s ability to ride out the opening ten minutes proved vital as Sweden looked to make the first move.

“Mary made some unbelievable saves,” Parris gushes. “We knew we had a shot-stopper who was going to keep us in the game, who was going to do everything she could to keep the ball out the back of the net.”

It would be Russo who stole the headlines that day as England went on to win 4-0 and Earps’ United teammate scored what some describe as the goal of the tournament in that cheeky little back-heel.

But those closest to the team knew that Earps had kept England in it throughout. Journalist Nicole Holliday, who was at the ground concurred, saying “Mary had an incredible game. She made some unbelievable saves and she was calm and in control.”

The squad was wide eyed as they headed into the final against Germany but they knew it would be a tough test. With the addition of United teammates Toone and Russo in the second half, England got the breakthrough six minutes after the restart.

However, Germany’s Magull tapped in an equaliser and the game once again went to extra time. It was end to end and Germany had another clear attempt to take the lead, thwarted by the strong hand of Earps.

“She kept making important saves, coming for balls, claiming corners,” Parris enthused, “She kept us in the game!”

Eventually, Chloe Kelly toe-poked the winner over the line with ten minutes to go for England. Again, it was another name who stole the headlines and the hearts of the nation.

“I tried to do a knee slide in the confetti and got stuck in the ground and fell over,” Earps recalls fondly as she beams about the celebrations that ensued.

The victory was a team effort undoubtedly but as those attacking players in front made the headlines with their sublime finishes which helped to set England apart from the rest of the competition, it’s clear that their rock at the back, Mary Earps, kept their hopes and dreams alive in each and every game with her near flawless performances.

Like all her Lionesses teammates, she has gone on to inspire a nation with youngsters flocking to Leigh Sports Village ever since to catch one of the World’s greatest shot-stoppers in action.

In one particular poignant scene following a WSL victory, a young boy held up a sign which read, “Most heroes wear capes, mine wears gloves.” Such was the impact on Earps that she invited him onto the field of play for a chat and a kick about the next week.

Earps attention right now is how she can help her club achieve its goals of Champions League football next season but no doubt she is already thinking about the summer with the Lionesses and if it could possibly top 2022. Can the Champions of Europe become Champions of the World?

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