MAN CITY WOMEN 5, ASTON VILLA LADIES 0
Manchester City women didn’t miss the firepower of injured striker Toni Duggan as they swept past Aston Villa in their first pre-season friendly.
City women, playing their first-ever game at the City Football Academy, found no difficulty finding the net in a one-sided match.
They secured victory in the opening period through goals from Nikita Parris, Isobel Christiansen and Natasha Flint while Parris and Jennifer Beattie added two more near the end.
The breakthrough came after quarter of an hour after a neat, passing move ended with Jill Scott squaring the ball for Parris to tap home.
It was a debut to remember for Parris who was signed on a season-long loan from Everton.
City added two further goals in the final four minutes of the opening period.
Flint cut the ball back from the right for Christiansen to crash home a shot from the edge of the box via the underside of the crossbar.
Demi Stokes fired over a low cross from the right for Flint, running from deep, to shoot high into the roof of the net.
The second half proved an anti climax with victory assured.
Villa would have scored a consolation goal but for a fine block by keeper Karen Bardsley to deny Kerri Welsh who burst clean through on goal.
City added a fourth goal with 11 minutes left when Christiansen released Parris who raced through the middle to slot home a low shot.
They were twice denied a fifth goal by the heroics of substitute keeper Jess Myers who athletically turned over a lob from Sarah Wiltshire and header by Beattie.
But a fifth goal finally came with three minutes left when Beattie headed home a corner.