AFTER 19 straight wins stretching back to May, Man City’s 100 per cent start to the Women’s Super League season was finally thwarted by their closest challengers Chelsea in a goalless draw at Kingsmeadow on Thursday night.

New England manager Phil Neville was in attendance and saw two key members of his inherited squad carried off at the start and end of the match. City recovered from the early loss of goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and survived a late onslaught from the Spring Series champions without England captain Steph Houghton to maintain their two-point lead at the top of the table.

Chances were few in the first hour with Fran Kirby coming closest for Chelsea, screwing her shot narrowly wide after robbing Demi Stokes in the area, but the home side laid siege to their opponents’ goal after Houghton went off injured in search of the win that would have seen them leapfrog City at the top of the table.