City recover to thrash Leicester
CITY recorded their first FA Women’s Super League victory since the opening weekend of the season as they came from behind to beat bottom of the table Leicester 4-1.
Gareth Taylor’s side had to recover from conceding in their first minute at the King Power Stadium but they controlled the remainder of the match against a Foxes side still looking for their first points of the season.
Leicester sensationally took the lead after 58 seconds when Jess Sigsworth robbed Jill Scott of possession on the edge of the City box and finished under goalkeeper Karima Taieb. It wasn’t long before the visitors threatened an equaliser, however, as Kirstie Levell did well to tip Ellen White’s header around the post before Georgia Stanway hit the top of the bar with a terrific strike from outside the area. The scores were level midway through the first half when Abbie McManus was unable to clear Demi Stokes’ cross, allowing Caroline Weir to smash in the loose ball.
City then completed the turnaround after 37 minutes when Keira Walsh lashed in an unstoppable drive from just outside the area, after Weir and Filippa Angeldahl had shots blocked.
Levell made good saves from Jess Park and Lauren Hemp, twice, before the latter finally gave City a two-goal cushion in the 71st minute by running on to Stanway’s fine pass and powering her shot home.
Substitute Laura Coombs then gave the score a look that reflected the visitors’ dominance when she slid a shot into the bottom corner after being left in too much space. City manager Gareth Taylor said: “I’ve always spoken really highly of Lauren [Hemp].
“She’s a fantastic player for us and a fantastic outlet – at times, I think we can overuse her and I think one of the challenges for Lauren in the past has been to connect with the final third.
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