Northampton Town secured their first success of the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands campaign with a comprehensive 7-0 win at home to Long Eaton United on Sunday afternoon.
Alex Dicks scored a hat-trick, Bianca Luttman scored a brace and Mia Richards and Gracie Williams scored the Cobblers’ other goals as they leapfrogged their opponents in the league table.
The hosts were dominant throughout and almost opened the scoring inside 30 seconds when Dicks hit the crossbar and Abbie Reboul was unable to get a clean connection on the follow-up.
Richards was denied from close range soon after, but the forward headed Northampton in front a few minutes later from captain Zoe Boote’s cross.
Dicks doubled the lead just three minutes later, finishing at the second time of asking after Favour Omenazu chased down a lost cause and squared the ball.
Dicks fired a low shot across goal, Ella Bailey volleyed wide at the back post and Vicky Barrett sent a powerful first-time effort over the bar as the Cobblers looked to increase their advantage.
And they did just that before the half-an-hour mark, Luttman swinging a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from Beth Artemiou’s free-kick.
Artemiou was on hand to keep Millie Miller out at the other end, heading off the line before the Long Eaton attacker volleyed the rebound in into the side-netting.
Dicks added her second and the hosts’ fourth before the break when she ran onto Artemiou’s through ball and stabbed past the onrushing Laura Setchfield.
The second period continued in the same vein after 20 minutes of first half added time and a very late start, with Northampton controlling play.
Dicks almost completed her hat-trick five minutes in, having an effort blocked by ‘keeper Setchfield and half-volleying the follow-up inches wide.
The striker found the bottom corner to make amends and round-off her treble two minutes later, and substitute Williams scored a sixth after the hour with a diving header from Artemiou’s corner.
The game settled down after Williams’ goal with the Cobblers keeping hold of the ball.
The midfielder was involved in her side’s next chance with 10 minutes remaining, flicking Artemiou’s corner on to Barrett who headed over from six yards.
Reboul went on a mazy run and aimed for the top corner late on, but Setchfield parried the ball into the air and claimed it at the second attempt to deny the hosts a seventh.
Luttman did make it seven in the final minute of normal time, completing her brace and the scoring when she was found in space in the six yard box and smashed home.
Josh Oldfield and Liam Williams’ side travel to Sheffield FC in the FAWNL Plate preliminary round next Sunday.
The Cobblers were narrowly beaten by their opponents in the league last week.
Cobblers: Jo Daniel, Zoe Boote (sub Abbie Brewin 69), Sara Wait (sub TJ Warren 59), Vicky Barrett, Bianca Luttman, Ella Bailey (sub Chloe Martin 75), Abbie Reboul, Favour Omenazu (sub Fay Noble 69), Beth Artemiou, Mia Richards, Alex Dicks (sub Gracie Williams 55)