In the first of three scheduled matches at Old Trafford this season, Manchester United fielded a formidable, but familiar-looking XI, with new signings Dominique Janssen and Elisabeth Terland debuting for the Red Devils, whilst Grace Clinton returned from her season-long loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile, West Ham showcased their own new faces, with new shot-stopper Kinga Szemik, Camila Sáez, and Li Mengwen all making their maiden starts for the Hammers as Rehanne Skinner’s side hoped to avoid a repeat of their 5-0 away day humbling in Manchester last season.

MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Galton; Naalsund, Clinton; Janssen, Geyse, Toone; Terland 

WHU: Szemik; Cooke, Sáez, Tysiak; Denton, Brynjarsdóttir, Gorry, Li Mengwen; Harries, Asseyi; Ueki

Dominant in their recent head-to-head chronicles, having gone unbeaten in eight Barclays Women’s Super League matches dating back to October 2020, Manchester United displayed an unparalleled level of attacking movement towards Szemik’s goal, with Leah Galton’s cross-shot calmly redirected over the crossbarm whilst a header from Elisabeth Terland was blocked on the line. 

Expectantly in the eyes of the majority inside Old Trafford, the hosts were rewarded for their attacking endeavours with the game’s opening goal in the 28th minute. Newly-appointed United captain Maya Le Tissier- following Katie Zelem’s departure- placed an ambitious long ball downfield aiming for Geyse, which was instinctively taken up by the Brazilian international, who bullied Sáez off the ball, before fiercely firing past Szemik at her near post.

One would become two in the third minute of added-on time of the first half, as already with an-eye-for-goal Galton assertively collected Millie Turner’s defence-splitting pass, took several touches on the fringes of the area, before slotting a sublimely-struck strike into the bottom corner of the net. 

United put the game to bed eight minutes after the restart. A criminally-unmarked Grace Clinton marked her return with her name on the scoresheet, as the Lioness glanced home an exquisite header from the boot of fellow central midfielder Lisa Naalsund’s dangerously-delivered the ball into the area.

Unable to manufacture a meaningful moment for new United number one Phallon Tullis-Joyce to deal with, West Ham nearly rewrote that wrong shortly after the hour-mark.However, Katrina Gorry – handed the captaincy for the 2024/25 campaign – disappointedly misdirected her strike high into the stands behind the goal.

Tullis-Joyce was eventually called into making her first save of the match with eight minutes left in regulation time, brilliantly diving acrobatically towards her left post to prevent an incoming cross – that has evaded everyone – from nestling nicely into the corner to preserve her clean sheet and mark another H2H victory ‘to nil’ over an ineffectual-attacking West Ham side.