Reggae Girl Shaw nets 18th goal of season

MANCHESTER, England (CMC):

Season-leader Reggae Girl Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw bagged her 18th goal of the season as Manchester City came from behind to thrash Reading 4-1 in the Women’s Super League.

Playing at the City Football Academy on Sunday, the 26-year-old Shaw scored the second of City’s goals in the 24th minute, after Chloe Kelly had equalised in the 15th, following Reading’s shock opener in the first minute through Sanne Troelsgaard.

Lauren Hemp added City’s third two minutes after the break before Steph Houghton put the finishing touches on with her 70th-minute strike, City closing the gap on cross town rivals Manchester United to three points with their fourth win on the trot.

United lead the standings with 47 points with City second and Chelsea back in third on 40 points.

“In our last two games, we’ve scored 10 and given away three. The stats are showing that we’re creating and scoring. We want to score more. Everybody does,” said City boss, Gareth Taylor.

Veteran Danish international Troelsgaard curled a brilliant strike beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck to give the Royals a shock lead moments after the opening whistle but City regrouped quickly, equalising when Kelly poked home after full back Diane Caldwell turned possession over under pressure from Shaw.

The enterprising Shaw then put her side ahead when she eluded her marker to nod in Alex Greenwood’s corner, taking her past Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly with whom she was tied in the race for the Golden Boot.

Troelsgaard missed an open goal and Reading paid dearly, Hemp knocking in Kelly’s cross in the 47th before centre back Houghton buried her free kick to mark her second goal of the season.