Sweetman-Kirk hits four as Durham bow out of FA Cup
Durham Women suffered a 6-1 home thrashing at the hands of Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The result was flattering for the Toffees though.
Ultimately, the WSL1 side’s more clinical finishing was the big difference, with Courtney Sweetman-Kirk grabbing four goals.
She opened the scoring after Durham keeper Helen Alderson had parried Olivia Chance’s shot.
Durham almost levelled when Zoe Ness chased down a Kirstie Levell kick which fell for Beth Hepple, who sidefooted over the top.
Everton then doubled their advantage with Danielle Turner setting up Chance to slot home.
Durham’s luck was out when Hepple’s free-kick struck the post.
Sweetman-Kirk had Everton three up with a stooping header, while Durham were again denied when Levell blocked a Ness shot.
Turner rubbed salt in the wounds with a surging run down the left before firing across Alderson. SweetmanKirk then rounded the keeper to make it 5-0, before Durham finally broke their duck.
Gears had a header rebound off the post and Sarah Robson reacted quickest to turn the ball home.
Robson had the ball in the net again soon after only for the linesman’s flag to deny her, and Emily Roberts then rattled the crossbar.
It was Sweetman-Kirk who had the final word, scoring her fourth from close range in injury time.