MANCHESTER CITY laid down a marker in their quest to retain the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup, ruthlessly putting Durham to the sword in a 5–0 victory at the Academy Stadium.

City were four up by half-time, as Durham simply had no answer for the home side’s slick attacking play.

Krystle Johnson got the ball rolling for Nick Cushing’s team after 11 minutes, curling home a left-footed finish from 18 yards, following Isobel Christiansen’s pass.

City, buoyed by Johnson’s opener, continued to press and made to 2-0 on 23 minutes. An excellent team passing move involving Daphne Corboz and Christiansen, saw the latter square for Nikita Parris to tap home from close range.

Sensing the game could be won by half-time City refused to take their foot off the gas. England star Toni Duggan’s driving run and cross from the left was finished off by Christiansen to give City a three goal cushion on 29 minutes.

Forward Parris was rewarded for her work rate with her second of the game on 41 minutes, taking advantage of a fortunate ricochet to fire a right-footed finish past Anna Moorhouse in the Durham goal.

Johnson added her second goal, with a deflected strike on 87 minutes.

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