It's arguably an injustice that Lauren Hemp didn't get on the scoresheet in Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Two own goals in the second half and a late Khadija Shaw header secured the three points for City, but there is no denying that Hemp put on a masterclass in how to dismantle the most rugged and dogged of defences. A first half marked by 80% possession but nothing to show for it gave way to a City brimming with an inspired sense of injustice at the start of the second half.
And after 50 minutes of frustrated probing, intricate combination play and rocketed efforts from outside the area, City’s attacking quality finally came good as Hemp's cross left Reading captain Emma Mukandi stranded in front of goal after her desperate effort to divert Hemp's fired beyond a helpless Jacqueline Burns in goal.
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A cruel sense of deja vu followed seven minutes later, as once again Hemp’s cross caused chaos in the box, this time with Burn’s parried effort deflecting off Mudakis’ thigh and ricocheting into the back of the net.
Afterwards, City were momentarily forced into a rare spell of defence of their own as Reading responded valiantly with three successive corners. But Reading’s pressure did little beyond inspire some nervous cheers from the City fans who had made the long trek down south as Rachel Rowe - Reading’s hero from last weekend's dramatic 2-1 last-gasp victory - tried for two audacious long strikes, the last bouncing benignly off the top of the net.
Not long after, City returned to their regularly scheduled programming with Hemp foraying down the left again before substitute Mary Fowler's cross found Shaw in the six-yard boss on the 76th minute. Shaw, who had spurned her fair share of half chances in the first half, made no mistake of the chance this time, heading home from close range to wrap up the game nicely.
The victory marks City's fourth win on the bounce and puts Gareth Taylor's side into fourth heading into the November international break. Shaw, meanwhile, continued her remarkable goal-scoring form, with seven league goals to her name this season and 16 goals from 15 WSL starts.
But it was Hemp who will rightfully take the plaudits. Having been involved in 13 goals in her last 12 WSL matches for City going into Sunday's clash, Hemp is quickly establishing herself as the team's creative heartbeat.
Taylor named a notably altered squad from his side’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur the weekend before, with goalkeeper Sandy MacIver making her first appearance between the sticks for City since her move from Everton in the summer. Meanwhile, England stars Chloe Kelly and Alex Greenwood made way for Demi Stokes and Hayley Raso, who was rewarded with her first start of the season after an impressive cameo against Spurs.
Starting lineup: Sandy MacIver; Kerstin Casparij, Laia Aleixandri, Esme Morgan, Demi Stokes; Yui Hasegawa, Deyna Castellanos, Laura Coombs; Hayley Raso, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp
Substitutes: Chloe Kelly, Mary Fowler, Alex Greenwood, Julie Blakstad
