Reading 0-3 Manchester City: Two own goals and a Bunny Shaw header earn visitors win
- Published
Hemp has been involved in 13 goals in her last 13 WSL games for City, scoring seven goals and assisting six times
Two own goals from Reading captain Emma Mukandi handed Manchester City victory in the Women's Super League at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
City lacked cutting edge in places but it was consistent pressure from Lauren Hemp that resulted in Mukandi's two second-half mistakes.
Bunny Shaw's header from Mary Fowler's cross - her seventh goal in six league games - wrapped up the points.
It is City's fourth consecutive league victory.
Gareth Taylor's side are fourth in the table with 12 points, heading into the international break.
Reading, meanwhile, are second from bottom with three points, having earned their first points of the season last weekend with victory over Leicester, which ended a run of 14 consecutive WSL matches without a win.
Man City get the job done
City were dominant in possession and had chances to see the game off in the first half as Hemp looked lively on the left-hand side and Deyna Castellanos led the attack from midfield.
Their build-up play was clean and concise but Shaw struggled in the first half to find the clinical form that she has demonstrated in recent weeks.
The Jamaica forward had chances to open the scoring when she took a heavy touch from a pinpoint Hemp cross before heading miles over the bar on the stroke of half time.
Hayley Raso, who scored the winner against Liverpool last week, had a chance of her own when she nipped round Royals goalkeeper Jackie Burns and fired a shot hard and low into the corner but Burns dived down to her left and managed to punch the ball away.
Although the two opening goals were poor mistakes by Reading captain Mukandi, it was undeniably as a result of Hemp's consistent and extensive pressure around the penalty area.
The 22-year-old played a one-two with Shaw on the edge of the area and fired a square ball across the box where Mukandi completely mistimed her attempt to clear for the first goal.
Hemp sent in another dangerous ball which was pushed away by goalkeeper Burns but ricocheted off defender Mukandi's thigh into the net for the second.
City were more alert in the final 15 minutes after the arrival of Chloe Kelly and Shaw finally got her goal when Mary Fowler swung in a lofty ball and her team-mate buried her header.
City have won 12 of their last 14 WSL matches.