City Women became FA WSL Continental Cup Finalists following a Toni Duggan goal
Manchester City Women manager Nick Cushing said his side cannot be complacent if they are to get their hands on the Continental Cup.

Toni Duggan’s 51st minute strike was enough to secure the win against Chelsea Ladies in a tense semi-final encounter at Ewen Fields.

They will take on Arsenal Ladies in the final who saw off Notts County 2-0 in extra time.

Cushing said: “On it’s own we will have to work hard to win that game. We are not going to be complacent, but I think this team deserves something out of this season.

“For us we spoke beforehand that it is going to be a good season either way, we have had a good season. It will be a great season if we take this trophy, and we have to go now and win the final.

“Defensively we have done a lot of work this week trying to nullify their threats, which is pace. Tactically today as a team we really evolved.

“Definitely we want to be successful in this league and in women’s football and WSL. As a side we want to be a successful side, in our first ever season as a group we have given ourselves a chance to put a trophy on the board, that is what we will look at in the short term and then we will prepare for next season.”

Today’s victory was third time lucky for Cushing’s side, who had lost their two previous encounters with Chelsea this season.

With scores level at the break, City broke through when Duggan collected a loose ball on the edge of the box and slotted home past keeper Marie Hourihan.

The England striker was unlucky not to grab a second when a left foot volley rebounded off the inside of the post with the keeper beaten.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said her team had struggled following their 3-2 league win against Arsenal earlier in the week.

“I think the reality of playing two games of this magnitude in three days was too much for us today,” said Hayes.

“We are not ready to compete for honours on all fronts just yet, we have proved that today.

“I think they are disappointed with their performance, we weren’t at our best today. I think that is the poorest we have played all year and I think the intensity of Thursday night, took a lot of energy out.”



Manchester City Women (4-2-3-1): Bardsley; McManus, Lipman, Houghton, Radtke; Hassett, Scott; Johnston, Christiansen, Duggan; Flint (Kete 88)

Subs not used: Brooks, Nightingale, Walsh, Bougham, Harding, Young

Bookings: Duggan, Bardsley

Red Cards:



Chelsea Ladies (4-4-2): Hourihan; Borges (Groenen 63), Rafferty Flaherty, Wilhelmsson; Spence (Bassett 45), Ji So-Yun, Buet (Blundell 74), Chapman; Aluko, Ogimi

Subs not used: Endler, Coombs, Meiwald, Ayane

Bookings: Aluko, Buet, Ogimi

Red Cards:



Attendance: 752

Referee: H. Byrne

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