Gareth Taylor and Khadija Bunny Shaw won monthly awards for manager and player of the month as Manchester City surged into title contention.
Taylor has been named Barclays Women’s Super League Manager of the Month for March – the second month in a row he has earned the accolade – while Shaw won her second award after helping City secure three league victories on the spin.
Shaw saw off competition from Arsenal duo Caitlin Foord and Leah Williamson, Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly, Liverpool’s Emma Koivisto and West Ham United’s Vivi Asseyi to secure her award.
Speaking about the accolade, Shaw said: “I am so happy to win this award again – March was a very successful month for us on the pitch as a team, and I am very pleased to have been able to contribute with my goals.
“To have beaten some very talented players to this award means a lot to me, and I would like to thank everybody who took the time to vote for me.
“The hard work does not stop however, and I will keep giving everything I have to make sure that we enjoy a strong end to the season in our final five games.”
Gareth Taylor led his team on an unbeaten 14-game run in the league since October last year – winning 12 and drawing 2 before their WSL defeat at Arsenal this week.
Speaking about the award, Taylor said: “I’m really pleased to have been successful in this vote for the second month in a row.
“I think winning it back-to-back shows where we’ve come, the improvements in the team as well and the run we have been on.
“I’m at the head of it, in the good times and the bad times, but I have to say the players are the main reason why I’m able to accept these awards, as well as our fantastic team of staff – it’s a collective effort all round.
“We have five games left and some tough challenges in there, but we are right in amongst it.
“We need to continue and put together another run similar to what we’ve just done.
“Going all the way unbeaten from October to early April is a great effort by everyone but the challenge never stops, and I think it’s something to look forward to.
“We will just enjoy the run-in and see where it takes us.”