Willie Kirk insists Everton Women are a long way from the finished article despite completing their pre-season fixtures with a second 5-0 victory inside five days.

The excellent Megan Finnigan opened the scoring against Durham Women at Walton Hall Park on Sunday for the defender’s third strike in two games.

Nicoline Sorensen made it 2-0 before half-time and a rush of goals in the closing minutes, substitute Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah’s quickfire double adding to Izzy Christiansen’s predatory effort, ensured the perfect preparation for next week’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League opener at Bristol City.

Danish forward Sorensen’s fellow new arrivals Ingrid Moe Wold, Hayley Raso, Rikke Sevecke, Poppy Pattinson and Claire Emslie all featured for manager Kirk’s team, who last played a competitive game more than six months ago when Manchester United visited Walton Hall Park in February.

“It feels it’s been a long pre-season because it is so long since our last game,” Kirk told evertonfc.com.

“We had two weeks technical and physical preparation, then five weeks leading into this [final pre-season match].

“We think we are in a good place,

“The new players have settled and got to know everyone and what we want from them.

“We understand our strengths and weaknesses and how we can complement each other.

“We are where we want to be at this stage in our development.

“But we understand there is a lot of work to do to get us to the top level, where we want to be operating every week.

“We don’t think we are near where we want to be – I actually think we’re operating at 70 per cent of our physical capabilities and of how we want to play, so we need to keep pushing those north.

“The players are working every day to be brave on the ball.

“In each friendly we have had a little more from them.

“We have kept trying to refine things in training and reached a place where we are comfortable that we can put in the performance we will need to win at Bristol.”

Everton controlled the opening half against Durham and created a number of half chances before Finnigan, who netted twice in the midweek thumping of Blackburn Rovers, rammed the ball home following an Izzy Christiansen corner.

The same pair had already combined for Finnigan to force a sharp save from Megan Borthwick.

Raso thrashed into the side netting from a tight angle, a shot from Sorensen flew over the top and the visiting defence thwarted Simone Magill at close range.

Finnigan twice came close to adding to her personal tally following her eventual breakthrough.

Durham goalkeeper Borthwick held a header from the defender after another Christiansen corner and the same two Everton players nearly linked-up again when Finnigan was inches from connecting with the England international midfielder’s left-wing free-kick.

Christiansen instantly came again, cleverly manufacturing space to feed in a low cross for Danish forward Sorsensen to tap home.

“Meg has been at Everton a long time and has more competition now than ever before and in the past couple of weeks she’s really stepped up,” said Kirk.

“Not just getting the goals, which is a bonus, but her defending has been really good, defensively she was excellent today.

“On the ball she is improving – that was an area we highlighted with her 18 months ago and she is doing it.

“Meg had an up-and-down season last year.

“Now she is in a really good place mentally and we are pleased with what Meg is giving us every day.”

The overworked Borthwick denied Magill and, brilliantly, Sorensen shortly after half-time.

Durham twice came close through flighted Beth Hepple efforts either side of a fabulous Becky Salicki goalline clearance from Claire Emslie’s cross shot after the Scotland international was picked out by Christiansen’s terrific raking pass.

Indeed, Christiansen, in tandem with captain Lucy Graham, progressively exerted a grip on midfield, dictating the game's tempo and injecting energy and thrust into Everton’s play.

And the Championship visitors finally bucked under the weight of Everton pressure at the death.

Christiansen finished from close-range for the goal her performance merited and she would have had another but for a fingertip stop from Borthwick.

Boye-Hlorkah, who replaced Magill on the hour, defeated the helpless Borthwick with two skilful strikes in the final 60 seconds to make her case for selection at Bristol next Sunday.

“There is loads of competition for places and the players are dealing with it maturely and professionally,” added Kirk.

“They seem to be relishing it.

“We have been very heavy on More Than Eleven [the motto accompanying Everton’s new kit partnership with hummel].

“We have taken that into our environment and spoken about the fact that if we are going to be successful this season we need more than 11 players.

“The competition is bringing the best out of players and that is what it is designed to do.

“It is pushing them every day and they will all benefit from it.

“We have done a lot of work on our unity on the pitch; moving up the pitch as a unit and defending as a unit.

“And on that bravery on the ball, knowing you might mistakes but need to get back on it.

“The players have had it drilled into them that if you do give the ball away you have 10 players to help you get it back

“It is a work in progress.

“We will go into the Bristol game feeling confident and that we have enough to put in a good performance and get the three points.”