Bunny hits four as City advance into Women's FA Cup last-eight

The quadruple raised the Jamaican’s tally to 21 goals in all competitions in what was her 20th appearance of the term.

Filippa Angeldahl and Julie Blakstad (two) were also on the scoresheet as we secured passage into the quarter-finals.

And a great afternoon was rounded off as Jemima Dahou scored her first goal for the Club in the closing stages.

WHAT HAPPENED

City were aiming to return from the international break in perfect fashion and made a strong start at the Robins High Performance Centre by taking the lead after 13 minutes.

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

Bunny’s brace not only raised her incredible personal tally to 19 for the season, but the double brought City’s total in 2022/23 to 60 in all competitions. 

Gareth Taylor’s side were well on top approaching the interval and Shaw’s superb form in front of goal continued on 41 minutes as she bagged her third of the afternoon.

Lauren Hemp and Leila Ouahabi 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.

We weren’t finished there in the opening 45, though, as Angeldahl netted a well-deserved goal by firing a rocket into the top corner after the ball broke to the Swede on the edge of the area.

Finalists in 2022 and winners in 2021, the Women’s FA Cup certainly holds high importance to City as we aim to win our fourth trophy in the competition.

And our place in the last-eight was all-but sealed when substitute Blakstad reacted well inside the box to tap home Hemp’s rebounded shot. 

The hosts pulled a goal back, however, moments later when Gracie Pearse headed home Abi Harrison’s whipped free-kick from the left - which proved no more than a consolation.

Alongside the strong scoreline, there was further reasons to be positive as Demi Stokes returned from injury to make her first outing of 2023, replacing Alex Greenwood with 25 minutes remaining. 

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

And on the cusp of full-time, Blakstad secured her brace when she calmly slotted the ball past Bentley after Mary Fowler did well to retrieve possession before squaring across the face of goal.

But there was still time for City to score an eighth, as Bunny turned provider when teeing up Jemima Dahou who clinical struck into the net to claim her first goal in senior football.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw

The Jamaican grew into the first half then scored a sensational four goals as her red hot form continued.

The 25-year-old now has 21 for the season in all competitions and was too much for the Vixens defenders to handle during the victory.

Alongside the striker’s excellent display, Alex Greenwood deserves a mention for a top class performance at the heart of our defence.

HOW WE LINED UP

Sandy MacIver’s goal was protected by a back four of Laia Aleixandri, Steph Houghton, Alex Greenwood, Leila Ouahabi.

Filippa Angeldahl anchored the midfield behind Laura Coombs and Deyna Castellanos.

And Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp operated on the flanks either side of Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw who led the frontline.

City XI: Sandy MacIver, Laia Aleixandri, Steph Houghton (C), Alex Greenwood (Demi Stokes 66’), Leila Ouahabi, Filippa Angeldahl, Laura Coombs (Mary Fowler 46’), Deyna Castellanos, Lauren Hemp (Jemima Dahou 75’), Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Chloe Kelly (Julie Blakstad 46’).

Substitutes: Ellie Roebuck, Yui Hasegawa, Emma Siddall.

Bristol City XI: Fran Bentley, Ffion Morgan (Maddi Wilde 62’), Naomi Layzell, Gracie Pearse, Ella Powell, Jasmine Bull, Emily Syme, Rachel Furness, Aimee Palmer (C) (Shania Hayles 46’), Jesse Woolley (Abi Harrison 46’), Grace Clinton ( Mari Ward 80’).

Substitutes: Clark, Elysia Boddy, Chloe Bull, Jodie Hutton, Vicky Bruce.

WHAT IT MEANS

City advance to the into the quarter-finals of the Women’s FA Cup following the victory over the Vixens.

Keep across mancity.com and the official Man City app for details of the last-eight draw.

UP NEXT

Taylor’s side return to Barclays Women’s Super League action next time out as we host Spurs at the Academy Stadium on Sunday 5 March – with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 (UK).

Next Fixture

All fixtures

Sun 05 Mar

FA WSL

Man City

14:00

GMT

Spurs