Fridolina Rolfo's late strike consigned us to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Subway Women's League Cup on Sunday.
Just as in last week's Women's Super League encounter, we forged ahead at the Progress With Unity Stadium in Leigh, only to be pegged back by United. It means we bow out at the quarter-final stage for the fourth season on the trot.
Drew Spence struck a picturebook volley to open the scoring on 16 minutes but goals from Jess Park and Rolfo turned it around for the home side, who will now face Arsenal in the last four of the competition.
We were on the front foot straight away as Bethany England looped a header just wide from Matilda Vinberg's cross inside three minutes. United responded with Dominique Janssen firing just wide from 25 yards.
A super counter-attack prised United open on 13 minutes. England, Martha Thomas and Vinberg were all involved before Vinberg released Thomas, who in turn spotted Olivia Holdt sprinting to join the attack. Thomas picked out the pass - unfortunately, Phallon Tullis-Joyce made the one-on-one save with her legs.
It didn't take long for us to make the breakthrough. Three minutes after that break, Holdt's free-kick found England free at the far post, she headed back into the danger area, the ball was cleared to Spence who controlled and fired back a volley into the top corner, brilliant technique from the midfielder.
United's best spell came in five minutes after the half-hour mark. First up, Fridolina Rolfo's cross zipped across goal, then Julia Olme glanced a corner just wide. Superb defending kept the home side out from successive corners minutes later - Lize Kop saved point-blank from Olme, then Amanda Nilden got back on the line to head away Ella Toone's clever lob, destined for the net.
We swung momentum back our way - Thomas volleyed just wide before Eveliina Summanen's inswinging corner struck the foot of the post.
United started to get on top in the second half and Rolfo's dart down the left led to the equaliser on 51 minutes, her cross stroked home by Jess Park from 12 yards. Kop was at her best again to deny Janssen and Rolfo, twice, but United's Sweden international finally got the better of the goalkeeper with a clean strike from Melvine Malard's cross four minutes from time.
Spence struck another sweet volley as we searched for an equaliser, but this one went straight at Tullis-Joyce, who held on - as did the home side to progress to the last four.