Northampton Town Women won 5-0 at home to Leek Town in the FA Women’s National League Plate on Sunday afternoon.
Jade Bell scored a brace whilst Mia Richards, Zoe Boote and Alex Dicks netted the Cobblers’ other goals as they progressed to the second round of the competition.
Joint-manager Liam Williams made two changes to the side that were beaten by Sporting Khalsa last week, as Holly Mayfield and TJ Warren replaced Katie McLean and Bianca Luttman in the starting line up.
The hosts controlled large periods of the opening 45 minutes with Bell having an early flicked header blocked from Paige Ridley’s near-post cross.
The Cobblers opened the scoring on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when Richards converted Bell’s cutback with Kim Farrow also arriving at close range.
The forward almost doubled her tally and the lead midway through the first half when she controlled ‘keeper Harriet Grimshaw’s loose kick and dipped an effort narrowly wide from 40 yards.
Bell sprinted onto Fay Noble’s through ball and placed past the onrushing ‘keeper to score the hosts’ second goal a few minutes later.
The striker cut inside and had a curled shot held by Grimshaw at the second attempt soon after.
Captain Boote extended her side’s advantage five minutes before the break, finding the far corner with a looping cross-shot.
Leek attempted to respond early in the second half as Chantelle Gallagher’s long-range strike was tipped over by half-time substitute McLean.
However, the Cobblers regained control and threatened again 10 minutes after the restart when Farrow’s edge-of-the-box free-kick was pushed wide by the diving Grimshaw.
Farrow had an effort blocked on the line moments later after Noble’s inswinging corner was met by Ridley and hooked back into the danger zone by Richards.
The visitors were still creating chances as they desperately searched for a route back into the tie, Ruby Heselden blocking a powerful shot after her opponent cut in from the byline.
But sub Rhea Patel’s whipped cross was only cleared as far as Bell by Manuela Dele and the striker finished the loose ball to secure the Cobblers’ place in the next round going into the final quarter-of-an-hour.
Leek came inches from a consolation in added time, hitting the post from a corner and being denied by an excellent McLean stop before sub Ona Ndefo went up the other end and almost scored one-on-one.
There was still time for the striker to play Dicks through, and she poked through Grimshaw’s legs to add a fifth goal.
The Cobblers are returning to Sixfields Stadium next week. Their FAWNL Division One Midlands fixture against Sutton Coldfield Town will kick-off at 1:30pm.
NTFC Women season tickets are valid, whilst individual match tickets are available from ntfcdirect.co.uk and on the gate.
Cobblers: Holly Mayfield, Paige Ridley, TJ Warren, Vicky Barrett, Ruby Heselden, Zoe Boote, Annie Villamartin, Fay Noble, Mia Richards, Kim Farrow, Jade Bell
Substitutes: Katie McLean, Bianca Luttman, Rhea Patel, Alex Dicks, Ona Ndefo