SHE SHAW CAN SCORE

City ace Khadija goes top of goal chart

KHADIJA SHAW fired herself to the top of the WSL scoring charts and Manchester City to within three points of table-toppers Chelsea.

But Gareth Taylor’s side were given a stern test by Tottenham, who but for some wayward finishing and two strokes of misfortune could have put a severe dent in City’s title hopes.

An own goal from Spurs defender Amy Turner when she steered Lauren Hemp’s cross into her own net set the ball rolling for City in the ninth minute.

Spurs then saw Martha Thomas’ goal chalked off for offside and were left to rue a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal with Thomas, Celin Bizet and Beth England all culpable.

City, by contrast, were clinical and Shaw’s lethal form continued when she smashed home what proved to be the clincher early in the second half to take her tally to 12 for the season, one above Chelsea’s Lauren James in the charts.

Having been rocked by the news that key midfielder Jill Roord had been added to the list of female players to suffer an ACL injury, City responded well.

Roord was in the dugout at Brisbane Road and her team-mates showed their support by holding up a shirt bearing her No. 20

“It was a really nice touch – and really nice for Jill to be there to experience that,” said boss Taylor.

For Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn it was a question of concentrating on the strides they have made since being thumped 7-0 by City in November.

“We have shown progress and were better defenders today, but I think it also shows we are on a journey and we are not there yet to compete with the best teams,” said Vilahamn.

“Manchester City are absolutely brilliant in how they play and they have played for a while with this team. It was a little bit tricky because we wanted to make sure we defended well and had a good plan, but their first goal loses energy for us.”