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![]() Toni Duggan scored a goal in each half as Manchester City eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over struggling Bristol Academy at Stoke Gifford. The home side gave plenty of effort but never really threatened City's goal and the visitors could have won by a bigger margin but for the woodwork and the excellence of Mary Earps in the Academy goal. City started the game comfortably against a rebuilt Academy side playing only their second game together but opportunities were scarce at either end despite a number of promising opportunities. The first chance went the way of City as Nikita Parris made a strong run down the right and laid the ball back for Krystle Johnston who curled a left foot shot just past the far post. Things exploded into life just before the half hour though as England striker Duggan produced a high quality strike. Receiving the ball on the left from Parris, Duggan cut in and unleashed a shot from 25 yards which sailed past Earps and crashed off the underside of the bar on its way into the net. The home side tried to respond with Frankie Brown's low cross from the right being fired over by Angharad James but City were inches away from doubling their lead when Issy Christiansen's corner was met by a header from Jennifer Beattie which looped inches over the bar. Caroline Weir tested Karen Bardsley with a strike from distance and Tatiana Pinto headed wide from James' cross but City were otherwise comfortable going into the break with their one-goal lead intact. The visitors stepped up the pace at the start of the second half and were unlucky not to go further ahead when Duggan lashed a shot against the bar from fifteen yards and Earps saved from Christiansen after the rebound was not cleared. Christiansen was again to go close, Lucy Bronze's crossfield pass being nodded into her path by Duggan but the midfielder was denied by a good save from Earps. The resulting corner, taken by Duggan, was volleyed over by Bronze. Christiansen was next to strike the bar with a shot from the edge of the area but, despite Georgia Evans having a header saved by Bardsley at the other end from a corner, the pressure from the visitors finally told when they scored a second goal. The initial danger from a corner looked to have been cleared but Steph Houghton returned the ball into the area for an unmarked Parris at the far post and although Earps got a hand to her shot, Duggan followed up to tuck home the rebound from close range. City continued to dominate matters with Duggan and Parris both bringing out good saves from Earps and Houghton volleying over but with ten minutes left, Christiansen and Duggan exchanging passes on the edge of the area to allow Daphne Corboz to slide the ball past Earps and increase her side's lead. A minute later, Duggan blew a glorious chance for a hat-trick when a mistake allowed her through on goal and although she shot wide with only Earps to beat, it did not take the gloss off what had been an impressive win for her side. Bristol Academy: Mary Earps, Frankie Brown, Loren Dykes, Hayley Ladd, Hannah Short, Caroline Weir, Nadia Lawrence, Georgia Evans (sub Evdokia Popadinova 75mins), Angharad James, Sophie Ingle, Tatiana Pinto (sub Christie Murray 55mins). Subs not used: Lauren Townsend, Marije Brummel, Hannah Reid, Katie Jones. Manchester City: Karen Bardsley, Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Kathleen Radtke, Jennifer Beattie, Steph Houghton, Krystle Johnston (sub Daphne Corboz 66mins), Jill Scott, Toni Duggan, Nikita Parris, Issy Christiansen. Subs not used: Alex Brooks, Emma Lipman, Georgia Brougham, Abbie McManus. Photos: (top) Sophie Ingle is up against Steph Houghton and Jennifer Beattie (middle) Demi Stokes takes on Frankie Brown (bottom) Daphne Corboz scores City's third goal
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