Aston Villa Ladies 0 Manchester United Women 12: Newly formed United dominate their opening Championship game
Casey Stoney's side got off to an impressive start in the Women's Championship with her side running rings around Aston Villa on the opening day of the season
Manchester United Women kicked off their new era with a thumping 12-0 win over Aston Villa Ladies.
Goals from Jess Sigsworth, Lauren James, Mollie Green, Kirsty Hanson, Katie Zalem and Ella Toone insured Casey Stoney an opening day win in the Women's Championship.
It took United only ten minutes to open the scoring at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, with 16-year-old Lauren James bagging the record for their first league goal and that really opened the floodgates for the visitors.
It was not long before James - who looked impressive throughout the 90 minutes - had her second of the afternoon and shortly after Jess Sigsworth, who joined the club from Doncaster Belles, had her first league goal of the season.
Aston Villa struggled to retain any possession and Stoney's side punished their mistakes after Katie Zalem was brought down in the area and the referee awarded a penalty.
Zalem easily slotted the ball in the back of the net from the spot and Sigsworth bagged her hat-trick before half-time to send the visitors into the dressing room with a 6-0 lead.
Manchester United women got off to the perfect start in the Championship
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Stoney decided to change things up in the second half with Mollie Green replacing Charlie Devlin and it only took a matter of minutes for her to add her name to the score sheet.
Villa failed to create chances and their fatigue began to show in the second half as two impressive one-woman goals from Kirsty Hanson and another from Sigsworth saw United's goal tally into double figures.
Sigsworth managed to bag her fifth goal of the game with half-an-hour remaining and Ella Toone added the visitors' final one of the afternoon.
If there was any doubt as to whether Manchester United were serious contenders for the title, there can be little doubt now after that impressive performance.
Stoney's side are not back in action next until Thursday, September 20 when they take on Sheffield United but Villa will be hoping to put the result behind them when they travel to Leicester in the Continental Tyres Cup next Sunday.