City started with intent having Yukari Kinga and Elise Kellond-Knight in the starting line-up.

Through the midfield, the home side were able to control play and kept Sydney quiet for much of the game.

Meanwhile Sydney were unable to recreate the magic from last weekend’s derby, with Danielle Colaprico missing from that starting XI.

A straight red card to City’s Chelsea Blisset in the 76th minute wasn’t enough for Sydney to mount a comeback, as the home side shut up shop, protecting their hard fought lead.

From the start Spencer provided early warning signs to the Sydney defence, including winning a leaping header in the box in the fourth minute. And it didn’t take long for City to utilise their early dominance.

On the 13th minute, a loose ball from Chloe Logarzo caught between Sofia Huerta and Rachel Soutar saw Spencer pick up the ball before beating the last line of defence to come up big in a one-on-one with Sydney FC goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, showing no hesitation to fire in the opener.

The City goal was the wake-up call their opposition needed, with the game evening out as the half wore on. With Sydney finding more of the ball, and City no longer having it all their own way, the visitors found the breakthrough in the 21st minute.

 Having worked the ball well through the midfield, Savannah McCaskill was able to put in a peach of a ball for Lisa De Vanna who struck it well.

Lydia Williams came up big with the save but the rebound was unfortunate for the home side, landing at Amy Sayer’s feet in the box, who made no mistake and brought the sides back even.

Tied one all, both sides had some half chances - City perhaps with the better of the play – until they went into the break all square.

Photo by Rachel Bach

While Sydney found the first opportunity of the second half - De Vanna turning her defender and putting in a tantalising cross for Sayer who was unable to capitalise - the rest was all City.

The reply came immediately as the side moved the ball up the other end, finding Helen Caceres who put in a pinpoint cross to Spencer for the tap in.

City were searching for more and they found success again on the hour mark bringing up Spencer’s hat-trick. Rhali Dobson got the ball from the right flank into Spencer in the box, who didn’t need any encouragement to rifle home her third.

Trailing two goals Sydney tried changing things up with some early substitutions and player movement however City continued to control play and threaten with their pace up front.

A straight red card given to Blisset for stopping McCaskill from a goal scoring opportunity gave Sydney FC the numerical advantage and some chances from the visitors’ imports Huerta and McCaskill and substitute Julia Vignes.  But City were able to hold on for the 3-1 win.

City coach Rado Vidosic said having the additions of Kellond-Knight and Kinga in the side, “made a big difference, giving them more experience and it calmed down the game and playing at our own pace” and “wrapping the game up with the two early goals in the second half”.