Barrow's Georgia Stanway helped Manchester City women get back on track with a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City in the Continental Cup yesterday.

Caroline Weir's wonderful strike decided the contest at the Academy Stadium and lifted the mood at City, who were dumped out of the Women's Champions League by Atletico Madrid, for the second successive season, in midweek.

That had followed them being knocked off top sport in the Women's Super League with defeat to Arsenal and a first defeat against city rivals Manchester United in their previous Continental Cup outing.

Birmingham posed the home side a threat in the first half and goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck had to be on her toes to keep out Brianna Visalli's drive before later tipping away Lucy Staniforth's effort.

The deadlock was broken early in the second half when Ellen White scored her first City goal by slamming Lauren Hemp's cross into the roof of the net.

The visitors then equalised through Rachel Williams' header before Weir smashed in what turned out to be the winner with a dipping strike from 35 yards in the 68th minute.

Stanway, who has recently recovered from a hamstring injury, now has a chance to prove her fitness to England coach Phil Neville by training with the Lionesses this week ahead of their friendlies against Germany and the Czech Republic.