Bunny Shaw makes history as Man City take six-point WSL lead into new year

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Bunny Shaw of Man City does the 'calm down' gesture while celebrating scoring a goal. — Khadija Shaw celebrates scoring a goal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Manchester City and Brighton on September 12, 2025 (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

A dominant performance ensured Manchester City took all three points from their final home game of 2025. The win was courtesy of four Bunny Shaw goals, while Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino also found the back of the net.

Shaw’s efforts saw her mark a special milestone in City colours as she became the first women’s player to score 100 goals for the club in the professional era.

City head into the winter break at the top of the Women’s Super League table, boasting a six-point lead over reigning champions Chelsea.

Starting XIs

Manchester City

Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown, Miedema, Fujino, Shaw, Hemp.

Aston Villa

D’Angelo; Maritz, Patten, Parker, Maltby, Kendall, Taylor, Hijikata, Grant, Daly, Hanson.

Bunny Shaw scores 100th City goal

Despite pressure from the home side, it was Villa who almost took an early lead. In the fifth minute, Kirsty Hanson had a free run down City’s right-hand side. However, a sliding Rachel Daly was unable to get covert the Scotland international’s cross.

City finally found their breakthrough towards the end of the first half. A perfectly placed cross from Miedema was easily finished by Shaw. This marked her 100th goal for the club — making her the first woman to score 100 goals in the Sky Blue of City.

With almost the last kick of the half, Shaw doubled her tally. She fooled Anna Patten who could only sit and watch as the Jamaican’s effort hit the back of the net.

The 60th minute saw a sequence of chances fall to the home side who were unable to convert. Shaw, still in search of her hat-trick, hit the crossbar, while D’Angelo dropped low to save Fujino’s effort. Miedema thought she had added a third but the offside flag ruined the celebrations.

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The third finally came moments later through a wicked deflection. Fujino cut inside and unleashed her effort, which bounced off the Aston Villa defence and into the back of the net.

Villa were able to pull one back through a Lucy Parker header in the 70th minute, however the Villans’ joy was short-lived as up the other end, Miedema was on hand to easily tap home Fujino’s cross.

Shaw finally bagged her third with less than ten minutes to go. Substitute, Kerolin, once again had an impact off the bench and provided another assist for the Reggae Girlz striker.

Man City sealed their final home game of the year off in style. Grace Clinton picked the ball up at the edge of the box and her effort deflected in off Shaw — her fourth of the afternoon.

Who do Man City play next?

To end their 2025, Manchester City will travel to the Chigwell Construction Stadium to face West Ham in the quarter-finals of the Subway League’s Cup. The match, alongside the other three quarter-finals, will be streamed on YouTube on Sunday December 21st, with kick-off at 1pm BST.

Aston Villa are now out of action until the January 11th, when they host Brighton. Villa currently sit eighth in the league, and will hope to climb up the table.