City into Conti Cup semis after dominant Bristol display

The reigning champions took an early lead when Hayley Raso ghosted in at the far post to meet Alex Greenwood’s teasing cross from the left.

And that early goal set the tone for a dominant display at Ashton Gate, with the Australian doubling her tally for the evening four minutes later.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw added a third on the half hour, before Lauren Hemp found the net against her former employers from a tight angle soon after.

Mary Fowler would continue her fine Conti Cup form with a fifth before the break, with Hemp doubling her personal tally on the hour to round off the scoring.

What happened

It was a special week for City, who celebrated nine years since the relaunch of our Women’s team on Tuesday 24 January.

The Continental Cup represented the first piece of silverware that we collected as a professional outfit, and our pursuit of a fifth success in the competition continued in some style at Ashton Gate.

Gareth Taylor’s side were on top from the get-go, with Filippa Angeldahl the first to test the Bristol goal when she stung the palms of Olivia Clark from distance, forcing the Vixens’ keeper into a smart stop low to her right.

But City didn’t have to wait long for the opener, and it came in the eighth minute from a typically teasing ball into the box from left-back Alex Greenwood.

Her cross to the far post was met by Raso, who made no mistake from close-range after stealing a yard on Elyssia Boddy.

The Australian’s pace was causing serious problems for the hosts, and she doubled both her own and City’s tally for the evening soon after when she latched on to Angeldahl’s pass in behind the Vixens defence and fired back across goal into the bottom corner.

Taylor’s side continued to turn the screw, with Kerstin Casparij spotting the run of Shaw in behind the Bristol defence to give our top scorer a first sight of goal.

On this occasion it was Clark who came out on top, getting down bravely to block our number 21’s dinked finish.

But the Jamaican wouldn’t be denied a second time, powering home Hemp’s cross from the left to make it three on the half hour.

The former Bristol winger would turn from provider to scorer soon after, finding the far corner from a tight angle after jinking her way through the Bristol defence.

Hemp and Shaw continued to combine, with the latter failing to make a clean enough contact to find the target from the winger’s cross on this occasion as half-time approached.

But the England international would grab her second assist of the evening before the break when her cutback was confidently stroked home by Fowler.

City would have to wait until the hour to add to our tally, and it was Hemp who once again turned the screw.

The winger latched on to Shaw’s ball in behind before racing into the box and poking home beyond the despairing dive of Clark.

City continued to push for further goals, but had to settle for six in what was an impressive, professional display.

It means we are now unbeaten in our last 14 matches, winning 12 of those in the process, and are yet to concede in the Conti Cup this season.

Player of the match: Lauren Hemp

A constant thorn in her former club’s side, the winger was at her brilliant best at Ashton Gate.

With two goals and two assists to her name, the England international’s energy and creativity was often the catalyst for City’s intricate play.

Her second goal in particular, a darting run in behind and clinical finish, epitomised the quality that the youngster has consistently shown for Gareth Taylor‘s side over the years.

700 not out

City’s fourth of the evening saw us reach another incredible milestone as a Club.

We have now scored an astonishing 702 goals in competitive matches as a professional outfit.

Lauren Hemp‘s first strike of the evening represented our 700th and, incredibly, the winger was also the player to notch our 400th and 500th!

How we lined up

Sandy MacIver started between the sticks, shielded by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Steph Houghton, Laia Aleixandri and Alex Greenwood.

Yui Hasegawa started at the base of a midfield three, giving Filippa Angeldahl and Mary Fowler license to get forward.

At the sharp end, Hayley Raso and Lauren Hemp started on the flanks, with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw through the middle.

City XI: MacIver, Casparij (Kennedy 67’), Houghton (C), Aleixandri, Greenwood (Blakstad 61’), Hasegawa (Mace 67’), Angeldahl, Fowler, Raso, Shaw (Castellanos 61’), Hemp (Kelly 61’).

Subs: Roebuck, Coombs, Ouahabi.

Bristol City XI: Clark, Cataldo (Wilde 51’), Layzell, Bruce, Powell, Syme (Slocombe 68’), Bull (Hutton 63’), Boddy, Ward (Teisar 63’), Harrison (C), Hayles (Woolley 63’).

Subs: Bentley, Greenslade.

What it means

Victory sees City progress to the last four of the Continental Cup.

The semi-final draw takes place on Thursday 26 January and will be broadcast live on TalkSport 2. Keep across mancity.com and the official Man City app for all the latest fixture news.

Up next

City’s 2022/23 FA Cup journey begins at the weekend when we welcome Sheffield United to the Academy Stadium.

Kick-off on Sunday 29 January is set for 13:00, with our fourth round clash available to watch live on CITY+ and Recast.