GEORGIA Stanway again proved the difference for Manchester City as her goal helped them seal a 1-0 win at home to Birmingham City in the FA Women's Super League yesterday.

The Barrow-born striker pounced on a mistake by visiting goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, punishing the stopper for failing to deal with a back-pass by winning the ball and slotting home from close range in the 12th minute.

Ultimately, that was enough to settle the contest in the home side's favour and saw them pick up another vital three points in their final WSL game before the winter break.

It was Stanway's 11th goal of the season in all competitions, having reached her target of double figures before Christmas with a penalty in City's 6-0 win over Sheffield United in the Continental Cup last Wednesday.

The former Dowdales School pupil and her team-mates now have one game left before the turn of the year, which comes this Thursday in the Continental Cup group-stage away to Aston Villa.

City have already booked their place in the knockout stages and boss Nick Cushing is likely to rotate his squad.

"Players like Janine Beckie and Claire Emslie, then Abbie McManus who went in midweek and retained her place they’re working hard, playing well, training well and deserve their chance," Cushing told City Women's official website.

"That’s why we’ll probably change it up again and those players that missed out, such as Gemma Bonner who was unfortunate to miss out, will play a big part in that game."

The win over Birmingham put City level with Arsenal on 27 points at the top of the table, with their next WSL game away to Bristol City on January 6.

"Winning gives us the opportunity to be up there in the table come the real crunch time in April, and at the moment we’ve put ourselves in a good position, but we have a difficult January coming up," said Cushing.

Meanwhile, Stanway could potentially be featuring in a England versus Scotland clash at next year's Women's World Cup after the two countries were drawn in the same group.

Phil Neville's side will also face 2011 World Cup winners Japan and Argentina in Group D for the tournament in France, which takes place between June 7 and July 7.