A first-half hat-trick from Nikita Parris helped City return from a two-week break in style with a 4-3 win away to Reading Women.
Fresh from SheBelieves Cup glory with England, Parris completed a devastating first-half hat-trick with three clinical finishes inside the box.
The hosts had initially taken the lead early on thanks to a strike from Brooke Chaplen, before Parris replied within ten minutes after being sent through over the top by Jill Scott.
READ: Parris hails City’s clinical comeback
WATCH: Nikita Parris | ‘It’s challenging for women in sport’
The striker then added two more strikes with half-time approaching, taking a touch and smashing in her second after good work by Demi Stokes down the left, before getting on the end of a Scott through-ball to claim the match ball within 40 minutes.
it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Blues, as Fara Williams reduced the deficit from the spot after Allen had been brought down in the box just after the hour mark.
The hosts made it a nervy final few minutes when Kirsty Pearce reacted quickest to a smart Roebuck save following a looping cross into the box, but we dug in, withstood the late pressure, and held on to extend our lead at the top of the Women’s Super League to five points.
Watch the highlights from our seven-goal thriller above...
