Shaw hails ‘team effort’ after brilliant hat-trick

LONDON, England (CMC):

Reggae Girl Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has described Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing of Liverpool as a “team effort” despite scoring her third hat-trick of the Women’s Super League season.

The 26-year-old followed up similar feats against Tottenham and Everton last year by scoring in the 32nd, first half stoppage and the 56th minute, the hosts coming from one goal down at City’s Joie Stadium to notch their eighth win of the year and move into second behind leaders Chelsea.

“We spoke last year [and said] that we wanted to finish the year strong, and coming into this year we wanted to start the year strong; and I think, overall, it was a team effort,” said Shaw, who moved her goals tally for the season to 12.

“We scored a lot of goals tonight and we got the three points, so it was a good day.”

Rainy conditions

Playing in difficult rainy conditions in the northwest, City fell behind in the 15th minute to Taylor Hinds’s audacious lob before parity was restored when Gemma Bonner turned the ball into her own nets four minutes later.

The Spanish Town-born Shaw then took the game by the scruff of its neck, scoring the next three before Chloe Kelly netted a controversial penalty in the 78th to cap off the comeback.

Shaw was quick to praise the City fans for their support, especially in trying conditions.

“[The weather] was difficult. I think it got worse in the second half, but we knew that and we tried to play longer passes, and I think that’s just a part of the way we play and what we want to do,” she said.

“They (fans) are always good. They’re always like our 12th man – we always say that – especially when we’re tired and we have difficult moments, they help to push us over the line, and I think tonight they definitely played a part.”

City will turn their attention to neighbours Manchester United on Wednesday in the FA League Cup, and Shaw said she was already relishing the challenge.

“We’re looking forward to that game,” she said.

“Obviously, when we play United it’s always a big game, and we just have to build from this and keep the momentum going, and hopefully, we can get the job done against United on Wednesday.”