Manchester City closed the gap on Chelsea as goals in both halves from England internationals Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp earned Gareth Taylor's side the bragging rights in a hard-fought Manchester Derby.
The local rivals entered Friday night's Women's Super League contest looking to establish themselves as the main rivals to Emma Hayes' league leaders, who had notched a big win over Arsenal in midweek.
And it was City who seized the opportunity to put the pressure on the Blues, with Bronze dispatching from close range after United failed to clear their lines from a corner kick, before Hemp doubled the hosts' total with 20 minutes remaining.