Lauren Hemp scores brace as Man City ladies disarm Aston Villa

Lauren Hemp scored twice in four minutes to secure victory for Manchester City over Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League at the Joie Stadium.

Danielle Turner had given the visitors an early lead, but Carla Ward’s side struggled to contain City and relented in the second half.

The win lifted City up to second in the table, level on points with third-placed Arsenal and three behind leaders Chelsea, who meet on Sunday.

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Villa, who struggled to get star striker Rachel Daly into the game throughout, remain 10th.

They started with purpose and, moments after Jordan Nobbs squandered a chance from close range, Turner found the corner with a superbly improvised side-foot volley from Kenza Dali’s cross.

City took time to get a foothold in the game, but eventually began dominating possession and almost levelled after 21 minutes through Hemp’s audacious volley.

Jill Roord had an effort cleared before England winger Hemp fired just wide from the left-hand side of the box.

Villa defender Anna Patten then denied Khadija Shaw after a superb cross by Chloe Kelly, before Villa somehow survived another defensive error as pressure intensified.

Sarah Mayling was robbed by Shaw before Patten and keeper Daphne van Domselaar made blocks to thwart Roord and Kelly in the area.

The second half continued a pattern of City pressing and winning the ball high against Villa’s defence, and they went close again when Hemp shot over the bar.

Their pressure finally told and the game quickly changed.

First, Hemp emphatically headed in Kelly’s cross past Van Domselaar, then completed the turnaround, connecting with Alex Greenwood’s header from Kelly’s corner to force the ball over the line.

Hunting a hat-trick, Hemp forced Van Domselaar into an excellent save with a header as City were able to close out the game fairly comfortably.

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This was not the first time Villa have failed to capitalise on a strong position this season. Having taken the lead in five matches, they have gone on to lose four of them.

After going in front, they did not do enough to stem the City tide, dropping deeper as conceding felt inevitable.

Some desperate and well-timed defending helped them hold out for a while, but Hemp was in the mood all afternoon. Her ability to cut inside and find the target had been a constant thorn in Villa’s side.

It was an afternoon when Hemp showcased just how much of an impact she can have on City’s attack. If they are to maintain a title challenge, she will remain crucial.