LONDON, CMC – Exceptional Reggae Girl striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw bagged her second hat-trick of the Women’s Super League campaign as Manchester City won their fourth on the bounce with a 4-1 thumping of Everton at Walton Hall Park.
The 26-year-old scored twice in the first half after missing an eighth-minute penalty before adding her third in the second half to cap off a dominant City display here Sunday.
Shaw, who also netted a hat-trick against Tottenham last month, moved her goal-tally to a league-leading nine as City moved into second on goal difference over Arsenal on 22 points.
City are three points shy of league leaders Chelsea, who won 3-0 at Bristol City.
“There were some strong performances today, and I liked how we showed our personality in controlling the play and managing the game,” said City manager Gareth Taylor.
“With and without the ball, I thought that was probably one of our best performances.”
In their final league game of the calendar year, City started well and should have led when Sara Holmgaard pulled down Laura Hemp in the area. However, Jamaican Shaw saw her low drive from the spot confidently saved by goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
Shaw quickly made amends seconds later when she latched onto a searching ball out of midfield and lobbed the advancing Brosnan from just inside the box.
She then doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, receiving the ball on the half-turn before pivoting, racing into the 18-yard box, and driving a low, hard finish past Brosnan.
Dutch forward Jill Roord added a third in the 25th to hand City a 3-0 at the break, but Everton hit back in the 56th courtesy of a brilliant long-range strike from Aurora Galli.
However, City maintained their pressure, and it paid dividends, with Alex Greenwood sweeping a free kick into the box for Shaw to produce an outstanding diving header in the 65th minute.
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