Durham Women progressed to the Fourth Round of the SSE FA Women’s Cup following a comprehensive victory over London Bees.
A hat-trick from Beth Hepple and braces from Jordan Atkinson and Nat Gutteridge did a great deal of damage, with strikes Chloe Macek and Jess White sending the Wildcats into Round Four.
It was something of a familiar test for Durham, with London Bees being a regular opposition during the FA WSL era.
And this prior knowledge of the opposition seemed to help The Wildcats as they took the lead after only eight minutes.
Ellie Christon proved the architect, playing a fine ball with the outside of the foot which Atkinson cooly slotted past Imogen Riches.
Durham doubled their lead was doubled only two minutes later when Hepple controlled a pass from Gears before firing home from inside the area.
The strong start continued with Atkinson playing tormentor in chief. She twice fizzed balls across the face of goal before finding the side netting after Gutteridge set her free.
A third goal eventually came on 28 minutes when Atkinson’s cross proved too much for Riches who spilled it straight to Gutteridge, who poked it in.
Five minutes later and the visitors added a fourth when a Nicki Gears crossed was flicked up perfectly for Hepple to smash the volley past the helpless Riches.
Chances continued to come for the Wildcats and after Christon fired just wide of the far post, Sarah Eadon’s flick was only kept out by a superb Riches save.
But a fifth goal would eventually come, as Hepple’s ball across the face of goal was slid in by Atkinson at the far post.
The momentum continued after the break with the Wildcats adding a sixth after 53 minutes.
And what a goal it was, as Hepple fired into the top corner from 25 yards out to seal her hat-trick.
At this point the Wildcats were all but into the fourth round draw, but continued to press forward.
Rachel Lee and substitute Courtney Corrie almost grabbed themselves a goal from long range, only to see their respective efforts go narrowly over.
A seventh goal came with ten minutes remaining, as Macek opened her account for the club with a superb effort from 25 yards which flew into the top corner.
There was still more to come from the visitors who added a spectacular eight when Gutteridge executed an overhead kick and sent it past Riches.
Substitute White then got in on the act, firing home from close range after Atkinson teed her up.
It proved to be a routine victory for the Wildcats who progressed to Round Four.