Stanway hat-trick sinks Sunderland as Man City win again

Georgia Stanway hit a hat-trick to see off the Lady Black Cats.

Sunderland had a good spell just before the break but it was largely one-way traffic with Rachael Laws much the busier of the two keepers.

The in-form Stanway’s first goal came after a defensive error from Danielle Brown, a heavy touch allowing the 17-year-old to run into the box and smash the ball low past Laws at the near post.

The hosts had chances to extend their lead before the break with both Jane Ross and Lucy Bronze striking the crossbar.

Stanway added a second in similar fashion shortly after the break. A ball into the box evaded the defence allowing the teenager to once again beat Laws at her near post.

And the teenager completed her hat-trick in spectacular fashion, firing a first time left-footed into the top corner of the net, rounding off a brilliant individual performance and sealing the points for City.

Sunderland dropped to second bottom in the table after Reading picked up a point with a 1-1 draw with Notts County.

Doncaster Belles remain bottom - and without a point - six points behind Sunderland but with five games in hand.

Manchester City: Bardsley, Bronze, Houghton, Campbell, Stokes, Walsh (Middag 60), Scott, Christiansen, Parris (Duggan 71), Ross, Stanway (Corboz 86). Subs not used: Hourihan, Toone

Sunderland: Laws, Brown, Bannon, Sharp, Williams, Holmes, Staniforth, Chaplen, Furness (Potts 76), Mead, Hill. Subs not used: Olsen, Beer, Joice, Roche, McDougall, Ramshaw

Att: 2,026 Ref: David McNamara