A hat trick from Cheryl Williams plus goals from Sophie Baker, Carly Johns, Brogan Moore, Immy Lancaster and Georgia Timms saw United Women to a 8-1 victory over Norwich City Ladies at Court Place Farm this afternoon.

After Paris Sercombe was tested early on from a Norwich freekick, United Women quickly took control at Court Place Farm. It took just seven minutes for the U’s to open the scoring when Sophie Baker took the ball through and, limited for options either side, elected to shoot.  The midfielder struck the ball well and although it was hit straight at the goalkeeper, the ball somehow squeezed underneath the Norwich stopper and into the back of the net.

United had found their rhythm and continued to press the opposition out of possession. Williams picked the ball up on the edge of the area and fired one into the hands of the Norwich goalkeeper before the U’s doubled their advantage on 14 when Youngster Carly Johns did well down the right before picking out Williams at the back post with a good cross ending with the forward finishing well from close range.

Despite United controlling possession they were pegged back on 20 minutes against the run of play when Sercombe was spotted off her line and Millie Davis lobbed the U’s goalkeeper from 30 yards to give United’s opposition a glimmer of hope.

United responded well, though. A good pass from Moore picked out lively winger Carly Johns who tricked her way past a defender who stuck out a leg and tripped the youngster to give the U’s an opportunity to restore their two-goal cushion from the penalty spot. Up stepped Williams who fired home convincingly into the bottom left corner.

It got better for United just before half time when Johns grabbed the fourth. A good ball from Steph Bent found Johns with a lot of space in the area and showing good composure she rolled the ball into the corner to put the U’s firmly in control going into the break.

In the second half, United picked up exactly where they left off as Johns and Hines both sent shots narrowly wide. Williams then grabbed her hat trick with a terrific goal. She took the ball well into the area and one-on-one with Armstrong waited for the goalkeeper to come off her line before scooping the ball over her head and into the corner.

Emily Allen went close from 18 yards with a curled effort before Gemma Sims came close to United’s sixth with a free header from six yards but her effort went over. Shortly after, United’s sixth was grabbed by Moore who finished off a fine team move with a neat finish into the bottom corner.

On came Timms for Williams and with her first touch she got in on the action finishing well from 12 yards as United got their seventh 13 minutes from time. Lancaster then finished off the scoring with the last kick of the game to cap off a great home performance for the Women.

It was a confident performance from the U’s who were back to their goalscoring best and will take that momentum into the league next time out as they face Keynsham Town at home next Sunday.

UNITED: Sercombe, Clifford, Lancaster, Sims, Kirby, Hines (Allen), Baker, Moore, Johns, Williams (Timms), Bent (McLachlan)

Unused Subs: Watson, Roberts