Birmingham City edged closer to promotion from the Barclays Women’s Championship after a 3-1 win over Durham at St Andrews.
Simone Magill scored twice in both halves before Emily Van Egmond gave the hosts a third.
Mollie Lambert was denied an early opener by a full-stretch Adrianna Franch in the Birmingham net after five minutes.
Lambert was the one to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute after a Durham corner fell to her in the box for a strike through a crowded box and past Franch.
Birmingham responded five minutes after through Simone Magill who headed past Rylee Foster from close range.
Shannon Cooke attempted a shot from 40 yards out to give Birmingham the lead failed to hit the target just before the break.
A 57th-minute corner for the hosts saw a scramble of shots from Birmingham but a combination of Foster and the Durham defence denied a goal.
Beth Hepple’s 72nd-minute free-kick tested Franch, who was able to palm it away.
Birmingham came agonisingly close to scoring in the 74th minute when Magill was unable to convert on the line.
Magill got her second of the game to give the hosts the lead in the 80th minute after rounding Foster and slotting home.
Emily Van Egmond struck four minutes later to double Birmingham’s lead and all but secure victory in the Midlands.