Bunny Shaw’s hat-trick made it four successive Women’s Super League victories for Manchester City as they beat Everton 4-1.

An action-packed opening 10 minutes at Walton Hall Park saw Shaw have a penalty saved by Courtney Brosnan, but the City forward made no mistake in finding the net in the ninth minute and went on to bag a second before Jill Roord extended the lead. 

Aurora Galli’s incredible strike pulled one back for the Toffees 10 minutes into the second half but Shaw earned her hat-trick with her header sealing victory for City.

Three points means Gareth Taylor’s side are level with Arsenal at the top end of the table, while Everton remain on 11 points going into the winter break.

The hosts had a brilliant chance in the fifth minute from a corner as Katja Snoeijs did well to hook the ball into the six-yard area, but Martina Piemonte shot straight at Khiara Keating who made the save.

City were awarded a penalty minutes later following a great move from Lauren Hemp cutting in on the right, but she was hauled back in the box with the referee pointing to the spot.

Shaw stepped up to take it, but Brosnan made an excellent dive to her right to paw the penalty away.

Shaw soon rectified her penalty miss moments later, taking control of a loose ball and looping it over Brosnan’s head to put City ahead in the ninth minute.

Chloe Kelly and Hemp both had efforts from outside of the box saved, but the pressure paid off in the 22nd minute as Shaw found her double with a smart turn on the edge of the box before firing low into the bottom corner.

Roord got in on the act three minutes later after a quick move down the right from Kelly saw her cut the ball back to the Dutch international, who slotted it into the bottom corner.

Everton took their chances with Snoeijs having a crack from distance saved by Keating and the goalkeeper then scooped up Hanna Bennison’s effort before Snoeijs’ dangerous cross thundered off the far post.

Laura Coombs had a brilliant strike whistle past the post on the cusp of half-time, but the hosts pulled one back in the 55th minute as a clearance fell to Galli outside of the area and she smashed the ball first time over Keating into the roof of the net.

City kept hunting for more goals and came close when Kelly unleashed a powerful shot hitting the sidenetting before Coombs’ effort was held by Brosnan.

They eventually extended their lead as Shaw completed her hat-trick in the 65th minute when Alex Greenwood’s curling free-kick picked out the Jamaica international, who guided the ball into the far corner to restore City’s three-goal advantage.

City continued to retain possession as the game cooled down and they had a chance in the final stages when Ruby Mace’s effort was blocked in the 84th minute.