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Lauren Hemp scored her sixth goal in nine games against 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.

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.

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.

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsMan City Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

35Keating4Aleixandri33Kennedy5Greenwood15Ouahabi25Hasegawa7Coombs9Kelly20Roord11Hemp21Shaw

35Keating4Aleixandri33KennedySubstituted forCasparijat 45'minutes5Greenwood15Ouahabi25Hasegawa7Coombs9Kelly20Roord11Hemp21Shaw

Substitutes

1Roebuck3Stokes6Houghton8Fowler10Castellanos14Morgan16Park18Casparij30Mace

Aston Villa Women

Formation 4-3-3

1van Domselaar2Mayling4Patten14Turner33Pacheco5Staniforth6Corsie8Nobbs22Magill9Daly10Dali

1van Domselaar2MaylingBooked at 75mins4Patten14Turner33Pacheco5Staniforth6CorsieBooked at 30minsSubstituted forParkerat 74'minutes8NobbsSubstituted forSalmonat 74'minutes22MagillSubstituted forHansonat 45'minutes9Daly10Dali

Substitutes

15Parker16McLoughlin17Salmon19Blindkilde Brown20Hanson21Leat23Leon

Referee:Abigail ByrneMatch StatsHome TeamMan City WomenAway TeamAston Villa WomenPossessionHome57%Away43%ShotsHome19Away7Shots on TargetHome6Away3CornersHome10Away3FoulsHome3Away9Live Text Post update

Match ends, Manchester City Women 2, Aston Villa Women 1.

90'+7'Full Time

Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 2, Aston Villa Women 1.

90'+4'Post update

Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.

90'+4'Post update

Foul by Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women).

90'+3'Post update

Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kenza Dali.

89'Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

88'Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women).

86'Post update

Attempt saved. Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

81'Post update

Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81'Post update

Foul by Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).

78'Post update

Attempt saved. Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ebony Salmon.

77'Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

76'Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa Women).

75'Booking

Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

75'Post update

Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.

75'Post update

Foul by Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women).

74'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Ebony Salmon replaces Jordan Nobbs.

74'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Lucy Parker replaces Rachel Corsie.

74'Post update

Laura Coombs (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

74'Post update

Foul by Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa Women).

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Source: bbc.com