Man United 4-0 Tottenham: Red Devils win Women’s FA Cup for the first time in emphatic style as Ella Toone, Rachel Williams and Lucia Garcia net at sold-out Wembley

Manchester United had waited a long time for their moment in the sun.

After a weekend in which the Northern Lights lit up the London skyline, it was a Northern team who shone brightest at Wembley.

This is United’s first major trophy since the club was re-formed in 2018 and after a disappointing season in the Women’s Super League, this victory gives Marc Skinner something to celebrate.

Many United fans had insisted before kick-off that winning the FA Cup would not compensate for their domestic achievements and that Skinner’s future at the club remains uncertain with the manager yet to sign a new contract.

But as popular as he is and as successful as this season will be perceived to be, no one can take away from the fact that he is the first man to lift an important piece of silverware.

“We need to use this as a springboard to make sure this isn’t a one-off,” Skinner said. “We need to compete better in the league on a consistent basis to get back on top. As a club we know that we want to win titles.

‘This must be the impetus and springboard for us to know that we can achieve success for this fantastic club.’

It is also United’s first trophy of the INEOS era, but it was Avram Glazer, not Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who was present at Wembley.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was in attendance, but the Spurs players looked somewhat underwhelmed by their first appearance at Wembley. They had stayed in the game until Ella Toone’s brilliant strike put United ahead just before half-time and from then on they broke down.

“Man United deserved it, they had a really good day,” said boss Robert Vilahamn. ‘We have to look at the whole FA Cup and the fact that we are playing at Wembley. It’s a really good journey we’ve been on this year. I know we will be back. Today is not the end, it’s just the beginning.’

United’s biggest threat came from set pieces and they had a number of chances to break the deadlock in the opening stages.

Rachel Williams should have scored from two corner kicks from Katie Zelem, but could only send both her attempts over the bar.

Lucia Garcia then headed another Zelem throw over the bar, before Matha Thomas made a goal-line clearance to keep out Millie Turner’s effort.

In the end it was not a set piece, but a moment of quality when United opened the scoring seconds before half-time. Lisa Naalsund laid the ball off to Toone, who was given the time and space to shoot from the edge of the penalty area and the striker unleashed a phenomenal strike into the top right corner. Toone is a player for the big occasion and her goal was her fourth at Wembley in seven appearances.

Spurs failed to learn from United’s threat from set pieces and United eventually made them pay from one in the 55th minute. Zelem’s free kick took Williams and this time the striker headed the ball past Spencer into the bottom right corner.

Three minutes later the game was over when a Becky Spencer howler gifted United a third. The goalkeeper tried to play from the back, but passed the ball straight to Garcia, who shot into an empty net.

Tottenham could have pulled a goal back when Bethany England met Amanda Nilden’s cross, but the striker’s effort hit the crossbar.

United did not calm down and a fourth goal came in the 74th minute when Naalsund got to Garcia, who fired a shot over the head of a helpless Spencer.