GEORGIA STANWAY paid tribute to Nikita Parris after breaking her ex-Manchester City team-mate’s scoring record.
The England starlet became the club’s all-time top scorer after City thrashed Nottingham Forest 8-0 to reach the FA Cup’s fifth round in style.
A second-half hat-trick saw Stanway, 23, take her tally up to 63 goals.
The feat saw her surpass the record of 62 Parris set during the Citizens’ 3-0 defeat of Liverpool in the league in 2018.
And Stanway joked about avoiding passing to Lauren Hemp in order to protect her record.
The Cumbria-born forward said: “I’m massively honoured to take over from Keets (Nikita Parris) because I know how much of an unbelievable player that she is.
“I think it’s Lauren who is behind me (in terms of goals) and so if I don’t pass to her, I’ll be able to keep the record a little bit longer!
“But I’ll enjoy the moment and hopefully someone can beat me because then that means our game is getting better
“I told myself if I’m going to come on, I want it to be in this game that I break the record and then I can crack on with the rest of the season.
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“I put myself in a little bit of pressure, but it paid off and I made up to have been able to do it.”
Meanwhile Guro Reiten got on target as Chelsea’s got their FA Cup defence off to a flier by sending Aston Villa packing.
A classy brace for the Norway star was among the efforts that paved the way for a 3-1 knockout of the Villans.
The fourth-round clash saw both sides giving debuts to their newest signings with Alsu Abdullina featuring for the Blues and Jill Scott starting for the hosts.
The visitors showed they meant business with Reiten’s header in the box prompting a decent low save from Hannah Hampton in the tenth minute.
But the goalless scoreline lasted for a short while after with the Norway midfielder burying a 20th-minute bottom corner shot.
And the Blues doubled their lead moments later after a Villa foul in the box and Pernille Harder netting from the spot.
The hosts attempted to bag a goal of their own with Maz Pachecho blazing her shot over the bar moments close to half-time.
The second spell saw both sides make substitutions which included Scotland skipper Rachel Corsie entering for Villa 69th minute.
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And Lauren James came on for the Cup champs with twenty minutes remaining.
The forward made her first Chelsea appearance since featuring in the team’s Champions League defeat of Servette in November.
James’ arrival was preceded by another Blues goal with Reiten registering her brace with a top-corner striker with around half an hour of normal time left.
And Ramona Petzelberger nabbed a consolation for the hosts with last year’s Cup champs holding out to progress to the fifth-round.
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