The gulf in class between Manchester’s two clubs has been evident on the men’s side for some time. On the women’s side too, City have dominated. But last year the red half overtook the blue half the first time. Marc Skinner’s team finished second and qualified for Europe while City finished fourth, missing out for the first time since 2014.

But United are starting to feel like a one-hit wonder. Two goals from Jess Park and one from Bunny Shaw, whose strike saw her become City’s all-time leading goalscorer, was enough to make it three derby wins from three for Gareth Taylor’s side. An own goal from Kerstin Casparij proved to be little more than a consolation. United are back to being in City’s shadows.

They were 12 points behind their rivals before Saturday’s game and that gap is now up to 15. Should Arsenal beat Aston Villa this afternoon, they will be nine points off the Champions League places.

This has been a worrying season of decline for Skinner and every week it feels more unlikely that he will still be here come the start of next.

‘We know we’re going to be compared to the best season the club ever had because it was last season,’ Skinner said.

Jess Park scored twice and assisted the other as Manchester City won the WSL derby 3-1

Jess Park scored twice and assisted the other as Manchester City won the WSL derby 3-1

Bunny Shaw also scored as Gareth Taylor's side won back-to-back derbies against Man United

Bunny Shaw also scored as Gareth Taylor's side won back-to-back derbies against Man United

Jess Park scored twice and assisted the other as Manchester City won the WSL derby 3-1

The win takes Man City top of the WSL, and 15 points clear of Manchester United this season

The win takes Man City top of the WSL, and 15 points clear of Manchester United this season

The win takes Man City top of the WSL, and 15 points clear of Manchester United this season

‘We want to emulate that and we want to go beyond that, of course we do. This season hasn’t been that way but what I can promise is the games that we have left we’re going to give everything. We don’t give up because of a position in the table.’

United had started brightly, with Nikita Parris forcing Khiara Keating into a fine save before Geyse sent a volley just wide.

MATCH FACTS

Manchester City (4-3-3): Keating 7, Casparij 7, Kennedy 7.5, Greenwood 7, Ouahabi 7 (Morgan 88), Park 9, Hasegawa 8, Coombs 7 (Angeldahl 83), Fowler 7, Shaw 8, Hemp 7.5

Subs not used: MacIver, Stokes, Houghton, Kelly, Blindkilde, Mace, Pritchard

Booked: N/A

Goals: Park 37, 45, Shaw 46

Manager: Gareth Taylor 7

Manchester United (4-3-3): Earps 6, Riviere 5 (Mannion 57), Le Tissier 6, Turner 6, Blundell 5, Zelem 5, Naalsund 6, Toone 5 (Malard 85), Garcia 5, Parris 5 (Williams 57), Geyse 5

Subs not used: Tullis-Joyce, Guerrero, Ladd, Evans, Rabjohn, Aherne

Booked: Blundell, Geyse

Goals: Casparij 73 (OG)

Manager: Marc Skinner 5

Referee: Abigail Byrne 5

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But City got on top as the half progressed, with Park going close with a shot from range before Yui Hasegawa fired just wide.

City’s pressure then told in the 37th minute when Park finished off a fine team move. Hasegawa played the ball into Shaw, who laid it off to Lauren Hemp. She then played in Leila Ouahabi down the left and her cross picked out Park, who sent a side-footed volley finish past Mary Earps. 

Replays showed Shaw had been coming back from an offside position in the build-up but, with no VAR in use, the goal stood.

Skinner said that goal changed the momentum of the game. That may have been the case, but it did not excuse United’s defending for City’s second. Hasegawa’s cross into the box was headed on by Alanna Kennedy and an unmarked Park was there to hook the ball into the far corner.

United’s official X account had posted seconds after the restart that it was ‘time for a big push’. Thirty seconds later City had a third. 

Park was involved again as she won the ball back from Katie Zelem and played a diagonal pass through to Shaw, who held off Maya Le Tissier to finish. 

It was Shaw’s 68th goal in her 82nd appearance for City, making her the club’s all-time leading scorer.

United pulled one back in the 74th minute when Casparij deflected Blundell’s cross past Keating at her near post. That briefly gave the Reds some momentum but they failed to capitilise on a burst of pressure.

This win moves City back to the top of the WSL table, though Chelsea will go level on points if they beat West Ham this afternoon. United, meanwhile, could slip to fifth if Liverpool beat Everton.

‘The WSL title always seems to go to the final game and I don’t see it being anything different this season,’ Taylor said. ‘For us, it’s another three points. It feels more but that’s all it is. The margins still remain tight.’

Man United got a consolation goal when Kerstin Casparij deflected a cross into her own net

Man United got a consolation goal when Kerstin Casparij deflected a cross into her own net

Man United got a consolation goal when Kerstin Casparij deflected a cross into her own net

This season of decline means it is increasingly unlikely Marc Skinner will still be here next term

This season of decline means it is increasingly unlikely Marc Skinner will still be here next term

This season of decline means it is increasingly unlikely Marc Skinner will still be here next term

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