City got back to winning ways with a resounding 4-0 win over Northampton Town.
Northampton had the edge in the opening minutes, having the first attempt on goal with an effort in the 5th minute.
The Cobblers defended well as Chantelle Robinson and Toni McHamilton applied pressure, with Faith Horner’s shot from distance City’s only sight of goal.
McHamilton opened the scoring in the 15th minute after a flick-through from Cassie Steward left her one-on-one with McLean in the Northampton goal.
Soon after, Robinson made a quick run into the box but was tripped. A corner was awarded, which gave Ella Thompson-Moulding a chance to head it home, but it went high.
Hardy picked up a yellow card after 32 minutes after a late, high tackle on Bianca Luttman. She then hit the cross-bar with powerful shot after Sinead Fletcher sent the ball into the box.
Hardy then had a shot from distance shortly after that the keeper was forced to palm away.
The Imps made three substitutions after half-time with Lucy Farrow and Millie Quaintance replacing Chantelle Robinson and Sinead Fletcher and Leah Hardy making way for Katie Williams.
It was almost 2-0 in the 70th minute when Chyna McIntosh had a chance but passed to Steward, who sent the ball over. Farrow also had a shot from a tight angle soon after, which was easily saved by the ‘keeper.
Northampton had their best chance in the 75th minute, when Kitty Crouch made a quick run and took on a shot from just outside the box but it went inches wide.
Farrow doubled the lead with five minutes left when a shot much like her earlier attempt gave her the chance to kick it in from the rebound.
In the 90th minute Toni McHamilton scored her second of the game to make it 3-0, and as the rain began to pour, she completed her hattrick, scoring from close-range in injury time.