Manchester City went top of the Women’s Super League as Chloe Kelly’s double helped to beat struggling Birmingham.
Kelly twice pounced from close range in the opening 25 minutes following Lauren Hemp’s runs down the left.
However, Kelly was carried off after clashing knees with Rebecca Holloway in winning a penalty – with Hannah Hampton then saving Caroline Weir’s kick.
Esme Morgan met Hemp’s flick-on to sweep in her first senior goal and Sam Mewis lashed in a stoppage-time fourth.
The victory takes City top by a point from Chelsea, who have a game in hand.
Relive Sunday’s WSL actionWith Chelsea in Champions League semi-final action, Gareth Taylor’s side had the chance to apply pressure by winning their penultimate game and ensuring the title race goes to the final day next Sunday.
Kelly’s first-half double looked to have capped a superb week which also saw her make the six-strong shortlist for WSL Player of the Season, but her afternoon ended abruptly when a concerning injury forced her off after lengthy treatment.
City were not at their fluent best, but had too much quality for Birmingham who conceded twice more to set-pieces and had Hampton to thank for a string of superb saves, particularly from Weir and Janine Beckie.
Despite the defeat, Blues are all but safe, sitting three points above bottom side Bristol City with a game to go, and with a hugely better goal difference, but they still await the result of a Football Association charge for fielding banned player Ruesha Littlejohn.
Chelsea play their game in hand at Tottenham on Wednesday before hosting Reading on Sunday when City travel to West Ham.
Line-upsMan City WomenFormation 4-3-3
26Roebuck
20Bronze14Morgan27Greenwood10Stanway
7Coombs24Walsh19Weir
9Kelly18White15Hemp
26Roebuck20Bronze14Morgan27Greenwood10Stanway7CoombsSubstituted forMewisat 78’minutes24Walsh19Weir9KellySubstituted forBeckieat 73’minutes18WhiteSubstituted forLavelleat 78’minutes15HempSubstituted forParkat 87’minutesSubstitutes2Mannion11Beckie13Dahlkemper16Park21Lavelle22Mewis34Benameur39DaviesB’ham City WomenFormation 5-4-1
1Hampton
14Kelly16Brougham3Scott4Mace25Holloway
20Napier10Murray19Whipp35Murphy
18Walker
1Hampton14Kelly16Brougham3Scott4Mace25Holloway20Napier10Murray19Whipp35MurphySubstituted forGreenat 57’minutes18WalkerSubstitutes8Green9Sarri17Logan24WhitehouseLive TextMatch ends, Manchester City Women 4, Birmingham City Women 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 4, Birmingham City Women 0.
Attempt missed. Georgia Stanway (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Attempt missed. Lucy Bronze (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from long range on the right is just a bit too high. Assisted by Rose Lavelle.
Attempt missed. Caroline Weir (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Goal! Manchester City Women 4, Birmingham City Women 0. Samantha Mewis (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Alex Greenwood (Manchester City Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Janine Beckie with a cross.
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Ruby Mace.
Attempt missed. Georgia Stanway (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alex Greenwood.
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Jessica Park replaces Lauren Hemp.
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Hannah Hampton.
Goal! Manchester City Women 3, Birmingham City Women 0. Esme Morgan (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lauren Hemp with a headed pass following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Hannah Hampton.
Attempt saved. Rose Lavelle (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Samantha Mewis.
Attempt missed. Samantha Mewis (Manchester City Women) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Alex Greenwood following a set piece situation.
Georgia Stanway (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jamie-Lee Napier (Birmingham City Women).
Attempt saved. Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rose Lavelle.
Attempt missed. Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Alex Greenwood with a cross following a corner.
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Rose Lavelle replaces Ellen White.