Man City sign off with a win at Aston Villa but finish second in the WSL
Manchester City missed out on the Women's Super League title despite beating Aston Villa in their final fixture.
Mary Fowler's 21st-minute strike put Gareth Taylor's side ahead at Villa Park.
Rachel Daly equalised for Villa midway through the second half, before Lauren Hemp bundled in City's winner.
But City needed Chelsea to drop points against Manchester United, or for their own victory margin at Villa to be big enough to overturn the Blues' goal difference advantage.
Chelsea's huge win at Old Trafford ensured City remain without a WSL title success since 2016.
City took the lead when Fowler did well to control a low cross from the left, turn her marker and fire left-footed into the far corner past Anna Leat.
But by this point Chelsea had already scored twice, and as the goals kept flying in it left City facing an ever-increasing task to overtake their rivals at the top of the WSL.
Needing to rack up the goals themselves, City were frustrated by hitting the bar twice in the opening half - first through an Alanna Kennedy header, then via a half-volley from former Villa midfielder Laura Blinkilde Brown.
As City's belief waned in the second half, Daly took advantage by streaking away down the left before cutting inside and finishing right-footed past keeper Khiara Keating.
Hemp earned City the three points, nudging home a Fowler cross from close range in the 77th minute - but by that point, City would have needed to score another six to overhaul Chelsea.
This game also served as a farewell for Villa manager Carla Ward, who is stepping down after three years in charge, and for Manchester City defender Steph Houghton, the former England captain who made her final appearance before retiring from professional football.
Steph Houghton is Manchester City's record appearance holder
Prior mistakes cost City
A WSL season which promised so much for City, and included a league record 14-match winning run, has ultimately finished in disappointment - and they let it slip from their grasp.
City had the advantage in the title race after beating Chelsea at Kingsmeadow, and they held a six-point advantage at one stage.
But only beating relegated Bristol City by four goals - compared to Chelsea's eight the following week - before losing 2-1 at home to Arsenal after leading in the 88th minute, ultimately handed the advantage back to the Blues.
It meant that while City did their best to hold up their end of the bargain at Villa Park, matters were ultimately out of their hands.
Perhaps they could have managed the goal glut required, had Khadija Shaw been available.
Shaw was named WSL player of the season, and with 21 goals from 18 games she finishes as top scorer.
However, she missed their final three games because of a broken foot, while Jill Roord, their major summer signing and key midfielder, has also missed the latter part of the season with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury.
Both were sitting with the substitutes at Villa Park - symbols of what might have been.
Ward signs off with fighting display
This was an emotional day for Villa, as Ward took charge of her 66th and final game.
Under Ward's stewardship, Villa have become firmly established in the WSL and developed a well-earned reputation for giving the bigger teams a hard time.
So this game was an appropriate note on which to end Ward's tenure - although Villa were grateful to some fine stops by goalkeeper Leat for keeping them in it.
Ward, who was accompanied by her four-year-old daughter Hartley on the pitch for a presentation before the game, says she is stepping back from management "to prioritise other important things - such as family life".
