It was inevitable but Ellen White couldn’t quite believe it: arms outstretched, fists pumping, face etched with joy. It had taken just three minutes for her to match then surpass the England goalscoring record of 46 set by Kelly Smith.

So overcome with the emotion of the occasion the Manchester City forward, making her 101st appearance, almost forgot her trademark goggle celebration, as she skidded on to her back to be engulfed by her teammates nine minutes into their record 20-0 victory, surpassing the previous best, the 13-0 defeat of Hungary in 2005, in this World Cup qualifier in Doncaster.