Woodley United 7-0 Caversham United: Hamblin hat-trick sees Kestrels go top

May Hamblin struck a perfect hat-trick to help Woodley United move into top spot with a thumping win over Caversham United.

Caversham kicked off and started the better with Tiff Newland dangerous in attack, but three Woodley goals in a nine minute first half spell set the hosts on the path to victory.

Woodley United Ladies v Caversham United Women Pictures: Andrew Batt

The opening goal came in the seventh minute. Bonnie Messitt took possession of a Caversham clearance and her cross field pass to the left was played on by Mollie Haines to Sarah Lawrence, who cut inside a defender before shooting right footed into the far corner of the goal.

This was followed four minutes later when Hambiln’s shot was parried by Sam Theroua into the path of Haines to tap home.

The third goal quickly followed in the 16th minute when defender Gemma Simms headed past Theroua from Maddie Sawyer’s corner kick.

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With play now being controlled by the home side it was no surprise when a fourth was scored, this time by Hamblin as she headed Holly Wilkins cross from the left into the net.

Theroua denied Michelle Quinn and Charley Evans with fine saves, while Lawrence saw a shot rebound into play off the cross bar.

With the match in the second minute of stoppage time, Simms added her second from close range from another corner, this time by Ellen Surtees to give Woodley a 5-0 half time lead.

Two minutes into the second half good play from a home team goal kick saw Sawyer pass to Hamblin whose ran at the defence before firing over Theroua from the edge of the penalty area. Theroua denied Messitt shortly before the midfielder left the field of play with an injury.