Sophie Peskett netted a second-half hat-trick as ITFC Women thrashed Stevenage 7-0 at the County Ground, Letchworth on Sunday afternoon to climb to second in the FAWNL Division One South East. Skipper Amanda Crump coverted two penalties, while Abbie Lafayette scored once and home defender Leah Dunnage added an own goal.
Crump gave the Blues the lead from the penalty spot in only the fifth minute when she sent Stevenage keeper Hannah Vandersluis the wrong way.
And 16 minutes later she added the second of the match and her eighth of the season again via a spot-kick, the ball this time hitting the net via the post.
The Tractor Girls continued to dominate and have chances with Molly Sutherland striking the post in the 40th minute but the scoreline remained 2-0 at the break.
But 12 minutes after the restart Stevenage defender Dunnage sliced a Lucy Egan header into her own net as she sought to clear to make it three.
Peskett grabbed her first of the game in the 68th minute, hitting a shot on the turn into the corner of the net.
And the 16-year-old’s second and Town’s fifth came five minutes later when she ran on to a long ball from keeper Nikita Runnacles and beat the Stevenage keeper.
Peskett then created the Blues’ sixth for Lafayette, lifting the ball over Vandersluis for the sub to nod home her third goal in four senior appearances.
And winger Peskett completed her first-ever hat-trick and the afternoon’s scoring with four minutes left on the clock, rounding the keeper after Paige Wakefield had played her in.
"It was good, it was nice to come away from a game where we’ve created lots and we’ve scored lots,” manager Joe Sheehan said afterwards.
"We’ve had a few games this season where we’ve created lots and not scored as many as we need to and put ourselves in a difficult position by making it hard for ourselves. I’m pleased to create and score and also keep a clean sheet.
"It was a little bit frustrating in the first half, the goalie was unbelievable for them and pulled off some outstanding saves.
"We just felt that although we were 2-0 up at half-time we could have created more in the final third, so I was pleased that in the second half we stepped it up a gear and were a little bit more clinical as well.”
ITFC Women are next in action against leaders Billericay in a top of the table clash at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe next Sunday (KO 2pm).
Town: Runnacles, Pannifer, Hubbard, Wilson, Egan, Thomas (Biggs 46), Crump (c), Cossey (Lafayette 62), Cooper, Peskett, Sutherland (Wakefield 72). Unused: Dunn, Welton.