WSL 1: Manchester City Women 2-1 Notts County Ladies

Isobel Christiansen's first-half goal give Manchester City victory - but not the WSL title

Manchester City guaranteed themselves European football for the first time with a 2-1 win over Notts County, but they missed out on a first WSL title.

City finished second in the table, two points behind champions Chelsea.

In front of a club-record crowd at the Academy Stadium, Nikita Parris turned Natasha Harding's cross over goalkeeper Carly Telford's head for City's opener.

Rachel Williams headed in Danielle Buet's free-kick before Isobel Christiansen restored City's lead.

Christiansen's goal came just before before the break, smashing home after a clever dummy from Parris allowed her to meet Harding's cross on the edge of the area.

City's Jill Scott and County's Jess Clarke both saw efforts cleared off the line, while Harding and visiting midfielder Desiree Scott forced good saves in the second period.

A crowd of 3,180 witnessed the win which ensured City a place in next season's Champions League.

Notts County, this year's beaten FA Cup finalists, finish the season fifth in position.

Manchester City midfielder Isobel Christiansen: "I'm running out of superlatives to describe the phenomenal support. It has been exceptional and the noise inside the stadium was incredible and it's only going to get better.

"Obviously we're narrowly disappointed to miss out on the title.

"The Champions League was a target at the start of the year, and obviously we've achieved that - which given the mixed season, heavily disrupted by the World Cup, we've proved we're an exceptionally professional club."

Notts County's Rachel Williams: "We're obviously disappointed because we wanted to give a good account of ourselves.

"I got the goal, but we'd have sooner had the win. We've just got to make sure now we prepare properly and are ready for the Continental Cup semi-final.

"We knew that not much was going to change in terms of our league position in this game. Obviously we wanted to win for the fans, but for us it was really a dress rehearsal for next week. We had to make sure everyone was firing and ready."

Nikita Parris scored Manchester City's opening goal with a shot that looped over Carly Telford

Nick Cushing's Manchester City will play Champions League football for the first time next season

Manchester City: Bardsley, Bronze, Houghton, Beattie (Radtke 78), Stokes, Walsh, Scott, Harding, Christiansen, Corboz (Johnston 87), Parris (Flint 74).

Subs not used: MacIver, Lipman, McManus, Brougham.

Notts County: Telford, Walton, Bassett, F. Whelan (White 64), Turner, Greenwood, Buet (A. Whelan 78), Scott, Crichton; Clarke, Williams (Hassall 84).

Subs not used: Chamberlain, Plumptre, O'Neill.

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Attendance: 3,180