Northampton Town Ladies played their first home match of the season when they welcomed Notts County Women to the PTS Academy Stadium on Sunday.
The Cobblers got off to the dream start with a goal inside three minutes. The visitors struggled to clear a corner and Emma Dunmore showed composure to round the keeper and open the scoring. Dunmore was close to adding a second on nine minutes but her shot from Leah Stacey’s corner was well saved.
Keeper Jo Daniel came to the rescue for the Cobblers on 20 minutes, doing well to tip a long range effort over the bar, before play quickly switched to the other end of the field and Leah Stacey went close twice in a matter of moments, firstly sidefooting wide from the edge of the area and then seeing a deep cross hit the top of the cross bar.
Alex Bartlett headed a corner just wide on 27 minutes as the Cobblers remained on the front foot, but as the visitors did begin to exert some pressure, Cobblers keeper Jo Daniel made a brave save with the half time break approaching.
The Cobblers lead was almost extended in the opening exchanges of the second half. Alex Bartlett and Emma Dunmore exchanged a series of clever passes to open up the County defence, but Bartlett’s shot was clawed away for a corner by the keeper.
Eight minutes into the second half the advantage was doubled, County failed to clear a corner and Kellie Billenness drove powerfully home into the bottom corner.
Emma Dumore was fouled inside the area on 57 minutes, picking herself up to score from the spot and put the Cobblers 3-0 ahead.
Bartlett and Dumore were proving a real handful for the visitors and the former played in the latter five minutes later and only the onrushing keeper prevented the Cobblers leading scorer from adding further to her tally.
The deficit was reduced midway through the second half when County’s Jemma Marriott beat Jo Daniel via the inside of the post, but the three goal lead was soon restored when Alex Bartlett beat the keeper from a tight angle with an excellent finish.
Dumore was close to adding a fifth, but Bella Reed pulled another goal back for the visitors with ten minutes to play.
Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished by Dunmore who did score a fifth, showing great composure to rob a defender and fire home
Dunmore added a sixth soon after, being in the right place at the right time to tap home after the Georgina Powell had struck the post.
That wrapped up a very successful afternoon for the Northampton Town Ladies, who maintained their 100% start to the league season.
Cobblers: Jo Daniel, Reanne Mullen, Emma Billenness, Naomi Dauncey, Kellie Billenness, Leah Stacey, Alex Bartlett, Francesca Speck, Emma Dunmore, Abbie Reboul
Subs: Georgina Powell, Francesca Partridge, Georgia Tear, Sarah Marrison, Hayley Matthews.