Manchester City star Khadija Shaw tipped the ball around goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to take the lead at West Ham in a 1-0 win away from home in their return to Women’s Super League action.
The Hammers had the chance to take an early lead from a chaotic scramble in the City box that almost nudged the ball into the back of the net by Viviane Asseyi, and again Risa Shimizu edged through the back line for a front-post effort that Ellie Roebuck parried away.
But it was City’s day, just minutes after the break, Yui Hasegawa started the build-up taking the ball on the turn to link with Deyna Castellanos whose first-time ball put Shaw through on goal.
The Jamaican took a touch with the outside of her right boot, taking West Ham goalkeeper Arnold out of the game which allowed her to send the ball into an empty net. It was the only goal of the game but it was enough to close in on the third-place spot on the WSL as they end the weekend just three points behind Arsenal.
Gareth Taylor told Sky Sports: “Three points are always important, I think it was a tough game it would’ve been to edge ahead with a couple more chances that we had in the second half.
“I thought it was a matter of time before we’d get a chance and I thought it was a fantastic goal. The buildup was great. I remember a really good pass from Yui Hasegawa, a really nice touch from Deyna and then obviously Bunny being composed around the keeper and score.”
Shaw had gone two league games without finding the net against Brighton and the derby against Manchester United. But, after scoring her first of the calendar year, she remains on an equal league goal tally with Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly on nine WSL goals.
Taylor continued: “She [Shaw] is important because when you lose Ellen White, Georgia Stanway, Caroline Weir they bring goals to the team and Bunny’s obviously the Taliswoman at the moment with producing the goals.
“But I thought her all-round game tonight was spot on - the way she held the ball up, she looked really dangerous, she looked really hungry to score goals and she’s a real asset for us at the moment.”
The Jamaican has also now equalled last season's goal tally of nine in 17 games, having scored as many in just 10 fixtures so far this season, 13 in all competitions.
Bypassing Weir’s best season at City, eight goals in 20 games in 2020/21, but so close behind White's and Stanway’s best efforts, 10 goals in 22 games for White in 2020/21 and 11 goals in 19 appearances back in 2018-19 for the Bayern Munich midfielder.
Next up, the squad head to Leicester City on Wednesday 18 January at the Pirelli Stadium in the League Cup with Taylor's side currently topping the group with maximum points from the first three games as they aim to defend their title.
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