Shaw four-timer sends City into FA Cup last eight

BRISTOL, England (CMC):

Red-hot Reggae Girl Khadija “Bunny” Shaw scored four goals as Manchester City advanced to the last eight of the English Women’s FA Cup by routing Championship outfit Bristol City with an 8-1 victory over the Vixens here yesterday.

Shaw completed a first-half hat-trick with goals in the 13th, 25th, and 41st minutes before adding a fourth on 75 minutes at the High Performance Centre.

The four-timer raised the 26-year-old Jamaican’s tally to 21 goals in all competitions in what was her 20th appearance of the term for Manchester City.

Julie Blakstad (two) and Filippa Angeldahl were also on the scoresheet as the visitors secured passage into the next round and a great afternoon was rounded off as Shaw turned provider for Jemima Dahou, who scored her first senior goal for the club in the closing stages.

“No [I don’t know where to put the match ball at home], but it’s something I can think about,” Spanish Town-born Shaw said after the game.

“I try to help the team as much as I can, and they’re putting the ball in the box, and I just try to put it in the back of the net and score.”

City, who lie third in the Women’s Super League, were aiming to return from the international break in perfect fashion and made a strong start by taking an early lead.

Buoyed by her strong England performances before the meeting, Chloe Kelly drilled a precise pass into Shaw, who spun her marker and fired low into the bottom corner.

The goal was the Jamaican’s 18th goal of the season, and she grabbed her 19th soon after when she met Laura Coombs’ neat knockdown and struck the ball first-time past goalkeeper Fran Bentley.

Gareth Taylor’s side were well on top approaching the interval and Shaw’s superb form in front of goal continued as she bagged her third of the afternoon four minutes before the break.

Lauren Hemp and Leila Ouhabi combined down the left before the Spaniard then played it into the near post and Shaw flicked the ball over Bentley to seal her hat-trick.

With 15-minutes left, Shaw’s phenomenal display saw her score a fourth when she collected Deyna Castellano’s chipped pass and drilled the ball across goal into the bottom corner.

The hosts had pulled a goal back at 5-1 down when Gracie Pearse headed home Abi Harrison’s whipped free-kick from the left – which proved no more than a consolation.

Not even the introduction at the start of the second-half of Shaw’s Jamaica team-mate Shania Hayles – who has scored eight goals for the Vixens this campaign – could change the home side’s fortunes.