United go top of the WSL after putting five past London City Lionesses | OneFootball

Melvine Malard netted twice for Manchester United who defeated London City Lionesses in the newly-promoted side's first WSL home game.

The Red Devils fell to a defeat in Norway midweek but started the game well at Hayes Lanes when Melvine Malard was bundled over in the box. Captain Maya Le Tissier took the resulting penalty to put her side ahead.

The home side had plenty of talent on display and started to show their quality shortly after with a 15-20 minute spell in which they threatened, particularly from set-pieces only to be denied by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

The visitors doubled their lead with just over a half hour gone after Le Tissier's floated ball over the top set Jayde Riviere away. The Canadian may have been aiming for a cross but either way she fired the ball past Elene Lete and into the roof of the net – she may well claim that she meant it.

Jocelyn Prêcheur may have seen enough in the first half to hope his side got back into the game in the second half but United made it 4-0 within five minutes of the restart.

Malard netted both goals, first a fine finish after Jess Park's pass and then heading in from Anna Sandberg's delivery – the latter goal in particular saw a London City defence that did not look cohesive.

United's win wasn't a perfect afternoon, Millie Turner had to be stretchered off with an hour gone. Marc Skinner will be hoping her injury is not as bad as feared with Le Tissier and Dominique Janssen the only other recognised centre-backs in the squad.

That injury did seem to knock United back and the home side pulled one back through Nikita Parris who headed in from Kosovare Asllani's cross to make it 4-1.

That was Parris' last action of the game with London City bringing on exciting signing Grace Geyoro  for her debut shortly after.

United bagged a fifth late on in what was a trademark Jess Park strike as she unleashed from the edge of the box to net her first goal for her new club in style.

That result means United go top of the WSL, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference while newly-promoted London City sit bottom of the league after a difficult start to life in the top flight.