It was always going to be an enthralling contest between these two sides to kickstart another season of Women’s Super League action, with the second half not short of drama.
A conservative start to affairs in the second 45 juxtaposed the game’s final chapters as Kirsty Hanson’s red-card challenge on Hayley Ladd was expected to throw the game back in the visitors’ favour.
The reality painted an entirely different picture, however, as Rachel Daly fired home in front of a record 12,533 attendance in the West Midlands to fire the game into live in the final 20 minutes.
The Red Devils provided a clinical response in the form of Lucia Garcia, with the Spaniard stabbing home from a corner before Marc Skinner’s side salvaged a heroic comeback in added time to secure all three points on their travels.
A lofted ball from Nikita Parris found the head of Rachel Williams, the fellow substitute diverting her header into the far corner, trickling past Daphne van Domselaar for a dramatic winner and an eighth straight league victory in the Second City.
A new dawn means debutants left, right and centre as five fresh faces were named in total from either side.
The hosts welcomed the highly-anticipated signing Daphne van Domselaar in between the sticks with defensive duo Lucy Parker and the returning Anna Patten taking their place in the backline.
The return of Kirsty Hanson, meanwhile, would be one to fear for the Red Devils as the former United player took her place for her first match as a permanent fixture in claret and blue.
The visitors presented two new faces in their starting eleven with former Everton defender Gabby George coming into the fold while Brazilian superstar Geyse was immediately on the hunt for a debut Women’s Super League strike.
It was the Villans, however, who looked to strike first as Kirsty Hanson burst down the left-hand side, firing a low ball into the area and finding the feet of Alisha Lehmann; the Swiss international unable to set herself for the shot.
The subsequent clearance could only find Lucy Staniforth, a forceful effort from range calling Mary Earps into action for the first test of the afternoon.
