Manchester United enjoyed a 5-1 win over London City Lionesses in the Women's Super League on Sunday afternoon, staying top of the table and building timely momentum going into Thursday night's crunch Champions League return leg against Brann.
Marc Skinner brought Millie Turner, Julia Zigiotti Olme and Celin Bizet Donnum into the side for the trip to Bromley, with a first WSL start in red for Jess Park. There were also a couple of very familiar faces on the opposite side in ex-Reds Katie Zelem and Nikita Parris.
Maya Le Tissier marked her landmark 100th United appearance with a strike from the penalty spot, while Jayde Riviere scored a maiden goal in her 50th game. Melvine Malard also kept up her fine start to the season, scoring twice in the second half to move onto four in the WSL just two games in, while Park's late fifth was the pick of the bunch.
There was a United debut for Fridolina Rolfo and a landmark 50th outing for Hinata Miyazawa. But there was sadly no clean sheet, with Parris pulling one back late on for the ambitious hosts, while it is also hoped that Millie Turner hasn't suffered a serious injury after being stretchered off in the second half.
FIRST HALF
Barely any time had elapsed when United took the lead through Le Tissier. London City had already been given a solid warning by Malard, and the referee pointed to the spot moments later when another searching cross towards our no.9 saw Jana Fernandez barge her in the back. Le Tissier made no mistake from 12 yards, blasting the ball past Elene Lete.
London City had taken the lead against Arsenal last weekend and tried to flex their own muscle in response when Phallon Tullis-Joyce was called into a save from Alanna Kennedy at close-range. Tullis-Joyce soon grasped the ball when another set-piece saw Saki Kumagai connect with a header, and later a similar intervention as Izzy Goodwin headed towards goal at a corner.
Moments before Goodwin's chance, Anna Sandberg had tested Lete with a well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box, her effort met with a strong hand from the diving Spanish goalkeeper.
But just after the half-hour mark, Lete was no match for Riviere's rifled finish from a narrow angle. A perfect Le Tissier pass into the right-hand channel and an exceptional first touch from the right-back made the chance, with Riviere putting her foot through the ball to beat the goalkeeper.
SECOND HALF
Having scored early in the first half, it was an even faster start after the interval, with Malard doubling the United lead thanks to a quickfire brace. Our no.9 had been a constant threat during the opening 45 minutes and got her reward with a goal of her own inside two minutes of the second half. Park made it, driving towards the London City penalty area and knocking a clever pass into Malard's path. The one-on-one finish was as composed as you'd expect.
Collapsing, the hosts would have been kicking themselves over the fourth. Anna Sandberg raced after the ball down the left and her first-time cross was perfect for Malard, in acres of space only yards from goal, to easily nod past the helpless Lete.
To their credit, London City, on whom there has been a lot of attention since their promotion at the end of last season, refused to give up and managed a consolation, even after the game was long since over as a contest. It was smart movement from Parris in the box that allowed her to head in Kosovare Asllani's pinpoint cross from the right.
But United, and more importantly Park, weren't done. The England star drove into London City territory with the ball late on, cutting in from the left onto her right foot and lashing a shot from just outside the box into the top corner of Lete's goal.
There was still time for Goodwin to strike the bar for London City, bouncing down onto the line and clear, but 5-1 was how it eventually finished through 10 minutes of stoppage time.
MATCH DETAILS
London City Lionesses: Lete; Fernandez, Kennedy (Sangare 67), Kumagai, Imuran; Zelem (Perez 56), Roddar (Geyoro 77); Corrales (Lindstrom 56), Asllani (c), Parris (Franssi 77); Goodwin.
Subs not used: Orman, Brown, Linari, Jakobsson.
Goal: Parris 76.
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere (Rolfo 77), Le Tissier (c), Turner (Janssen 61), Sandberg (George 84); Zigiotti (Naalsund 84), Miyazawa; Park, Toone (Terland 77), Bizet Donnum; Malard.
Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Griffiths, Williams.
Goals: Le Tissier 3, Riviere 33, Malard 47, 50, Park 87.
Booked: Riviere.
Attendance: 2,800.