All-time top scorer Natasha Thomas hit a hat-trick as Ipswich Town Women thrashed Cheltenham 7-0 at the Everyone’s Energy Kayte Lane Stadium, Bishops Cleeve to climb to second in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division.
Thomas, who hit five in the 12-0 Adobe Women’s FA Cup victory over MK Dons last week, netted her first of the afternoon in the fifth minute, then Shauna Guyatt made it 2-0 on 13.
Jamaica international Thomas netted her second on 37, then Sophie Peskett and Charlotte Fleming added the fourth and fifth in the 43rd and 44th minutes to make it 5-0 at half-time.
Thomas completed her hat-trick on 68, before sub Ella Rutherford, making her return following a knee operation added the seventh with 18 minutes remaining.
While Town were maintaining their unbeaten start to the league season, leaders Hashtag United beat Oxford United at home to remain three points ahead of the Blues, who are now in front of the U’s by one point, but with Joe Sheehan’s side having two games in hand on both.
Town: Negri, Mitchell (Garrad 69), Boswell (c), Wearing, Barker (Hughes 76), Robertson (King 85), Fleming, Peskett (Bryant 85), Guyatt, O’Brien (Rutherford 58), Thomas. Unused: Hartley, Williams.