Women's Super League: Man City earn point at Notts County

Toni Duggan's strike kept Manchester City five points clear of Notts County

Toni Duggan's equaliser earned Manchester City a 1-1 draw in their Women's Super League clash with Notts County at Meadow Lane.

County took the lead when striker Jess Clarke took advantage of a 59th-minute error by goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.

But Duggan equalised three minutes later, and it was the visitors who then went closest to winning the game.

But a draw - City's first of the season and County's fifth in their nine league games - was a fair result.

In an evenly contested first half there were few testing moments for either goalkeeper.

County's Carly Telford had to react smartly to keep out a 17th-minute shot from midfielder Jill Scott.

Notts County's Jess Clarke scored the opener and had another effort cleared off the line

And six minutes before half-time Bardsley was well placed to save Magpies captain Rachel Corsie's powerful header.

But there was little to suggest the goalmouth incidents that would lead to Clarke's bizarre opener.

Telford's long clearance was met by Bardsley 25 yards off her line, but she hacked the ball against Clarke and the striker was able to turn the rebound into the net.

The scores were quickly levelled, Duggan forcing the ball home from close range following Krystle Johnston's corner.

Sixty seconds later Clarke was denied a second goal when her scrambled effort was cleared off the line by left-back Abbie McManus.

And in the 73rd minute Duggan went close to doubling her tally with an angled shot that Telford did well to turn round the far post.

City captain Steph Houghton almost hit a winner with a 20-yard shot that curled just over the bar.

But there were no more scares at either end, the result leaving City in mid-table and lowly Notts edging six points clear of bottom club Everton.