Hemp brace moves City up to second

The visitors had taken an early lead when Danielle Turner cleverly hooked an effort into the top corner of the City net.

But two goals in the space of five second-half minutes from Hemp turned the game on its head at the Joie Stadium.

It means City sign off on home soil for 2023 with another hard fought triumph, and having lost just once at the Joie Stadium this year.

What happened

With our lunchtime clash at the Joie Stadium representing Saturday’s only WSL fixture, City knew a positive result would pile the pressure on our rivals for at least 24 hours.

But it was the visitors who drew first blood, after going close through a deflected Jordan Nobbs effort early on, with an impressive effort from Turner.

The centre-half had stayed up following a set-piece, and cleverly hooked a volley over her shoulder and into the corner from a Kenza Dali cross.

City regrouped though, with intricate play from Jill Roord and Leila Ouahabi almost seeing Villa’s goalscorer turn the ball into her own net as she attempted to clear the danger soon after.

And the pressure continued when the ball dropped kindly for Lauren Hemp to try her luck on the volley midway through the half, but her dangerous effort flew just beyond the far post.

We went close again on the half hour when Shaw pounced on a mistake deep in the attacking third but, after a brief spell of penalty box pinball, Chloe Kelly’s eventual effort was smartly saved by Daphne van Domselaar in the Villa net.

City were starting to find our feet and remained patient in possession as we looked for that opening, and came out for the second half with a clear intent.

Hemp fired a vicious long range drive just over the bar after Shaw had got a foot to van Domselaar’s clearance early on, while Coombs was agonisingly close to poking home an equaliser until a Villa boot diverted the ball behind.

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But the elusive leveller would eventually come from the head of Hemp.

The hosts had worked the ball well out to the right hand side, with our number 11 ghosting in at the far post to power home Kelly’s inviting cross.

The reaction of both the players and the City supporters demonstrated the importance of the strike, and we immediately set to task on turning the game around.

And a second would arrive within five minutes, with Hemp once again in the right place at the right time.

A searching corner from Kelly was met by Alex Greenwood, whose header back across goal was tapped home from close-range by the winger.

But for a fine reaction save from van Domselaar, Hemp could even have completed a second half hat-trick when another header looked destined for the bottom corner.

The Villans had frustrated us for over an hour, and almost drew level when Lucy Parker’s stinging drive stung the palms of Khiara Keating.

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It looked like City had been presented with an opportunity to double the advantage as stoppage time approached when Shaw went down in the area.

However, much to both hers and her team-mates’ bemusement, our protests fell on deaf ears.

It meant City had to settle for a one-goal margin in a match where we were really made to work for an important three points.

Player of the match: Lauren Hemp

A standout display from the winger, who popped up when it mattered to see City over the line.

Direct in her attacking play, Hemp was a driving force behind the victory, and is now just eight goals shy of our scoring record as a professional side.

How we lined up

Gareth Taylor made one change from the side who beat Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, with Filippa Angeldahl missing out due to an ankle injury picked up while playing for Sweden.

She was replaced by Laura Coombs in midfield, with Yui Hasegawa and Jill Roord completing our three in the engine room.

Khiara Keating started between the sticks, with a back four of Laia Aleixandri, Alanna Kennedy, Alex Greenwood and Leila Ouahabi in front of her.

At the sharp end, Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp started on the flanks with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw leading the line.

CITY XI: Keating, Aleixandri, Kennedy (Casparij 46’), Greenwood (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Coombs, Roord, Kelly, Shaw, Hemp.

Subs: Roebuck, Stokes, Houghton, Fowler, Castellanos, Morgan, Park, Mace.

VILLA XI: van Domselaar, Mayling, Patten, Staniforth, Corsie (C) (Parker 75’), Nobbs (Salmon 75’), Daly, Dali, Turner, Magill (Hanson 46’), Pacheco.

Subs: Leat, McLoughlin, Blindkilde, Leon.

What it means

Victory moves City up to second in the WSL table, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference and just three points off league leaders, Chelsea.

The two London sides face each other in Sunday’s 12:30 kick-off, so Gareth Taylor’s side have gained ground on our rivals regardless of the final outcome.

Up next

City’s final fixture of 2023 sees us travel to Walton Hall Park to face Everton in the WSL.

Kick-off is set for 13:00 on Sunday 17 December, with tickets still available to purchase.