With the Barmy Army and a 3,702-strong crowd in celebratory mood long before the first whistle, the players didn’t take long to give them yet more reason to cheer.
A clearance from Emily Ramsey – making her second start in goal with Siobhan Chamberlain sidelined through injury – fell to Leah Galton whose first-time lay-off found an on-rushing Lauren James. With a drop of the shoulder, the 17-year-old created space to pick her spot and whipped a low effort past Faye Baker to give United the lead with just over 10 minutes played.
James, along with Mollie Green, has been battling it out with Jess Sigsworth at the top of the goalscoring charts all season.