The PFA Young Player of the Year starred, as City vanquished Villa with a ruthless first-half display, sailing into a stunning 6-0 half-time lead.
Hemp bagged a brace in the rout, and set up two more, producing a Player of the Match display with an influential performance.
Naturally delighted with her contribution and the overall result, the 20-year-old believes her side should now be considered contenders for the league title.
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“It makes a statement in the league that we are capable of scoring lots of goals,” she stated.
“It definitely shows we’re very clinical. Overall, it was a great performance.
“We would have liked to have scored more in the second half but it puts us in a good position going into Wednesday’s Continental Cup quarter-final against Chelsea.
“We’re definitely going for the title.”
Hemp was unfortunate not to complete her hat-trick but ever humble, declared she was simply pleased to aid the team’s performance.
The youngster instead shone the spotlight on the four Academy stars who were named on the City bench for the first time due to the absence of first-team players sidelined through injury or isolation.
Millie Davies and Alicia Window made late cameos with Anna Phillips and Millie Ravening watching on amongst the substitutes, gaining valuable experience – and Hemp spoke of her pride for their impacts.
“I would have loved the hat-trick,” she smiled. “I haven’t scored one before so that would have been nice but I’m just looking to contribute as much as I can – whether that means with assists or croses.
“I’m happy with the assists I got today. I loved the game.
“The girls put in a shift this week – we had a lot of Development Squad players who stepped up and really made a difference.
“Credit to them. The two girls who came on, well done to them, and the other two girls also stepped up. They’ve been fantastic.
“We’ve all been pushing the standards – all pushing each other – to get through this week.”
With seven goals, naturally, there were seven goal celebrations… However, with current protocols, the team were unable to gather in a huddle to congratulate the scorers.
It meant Hemp and co. had to be creative in marking the moments and the winger talked us through the festivities that followed her opener.
“Me and Jill Scott had said at the start that if one of us scored, we would pretend to throw a ball at the other, who would then step back as if it hit them!” she explained.
“In the world we live in at the moment, it’s important that we don’t celebrate with hugs – but it’s important that we still show passion.
“We all wanted to score and it’s nice to have that feeling of your teammates coming towards you – just not necessarily with high-fives.
“Hopefully, the win will give us a big step leading into Chelsea on Wednesday.”
