Dominant Bassett claim County Women's Cup crown
Royal Wootton Bassett Town overpowered Swindon Spitfires, winning a one-sided Wiltshire County Women's Cup final 9-0 as both Emily Arrell and Hayley Huckin scored hat-tricks.
Once they found the opener on 29 minutes, there was to be no holding back Bassett as they raced into a 5-0 half time lead. That was transformed into an 8-0 advantage early in the second period, before a last minute penalty completed the scoring.
The opening exchanges were relatively even. Arrell shot narrowly past the post with the opening chance of the game before Spitfires' Sophie Mitchell blazed a long range effort just over the bar. Debbie Rose then hit the post for Spitfires as she connected with a corner, while Arrell and Huckin both missed the target at the other end.
Eventually, however, Huckin found her range, steering a first time shot from an Arrell cross into the back of the net.
And that was the cue for the floodgates to open.
A second quickly followed when Lauren Kayll reacted first to a loose ball in the box following a dangerous free kick and slotted home.
Huckin's second of the game made it 3-0. Advantage was played following a late challenge on the halfway line, and the Bassett forward made the most of it when one-on-one with Spitfires 'keeper Sian Barber.
Arrell then rounded Barber to get her name on the scoresheet, while Huckin completed a first half hat-trick just before the interval.
The goals continued to flow after the restart with Kayll and Arrell finding the net within the opening three minutes. Shortly after, Arrell had her hat-trick, tapping in after the Spitfires stopper had come out off her line to try and win the ball.
By this point, Bassett were in cruise control, and it was more a question of how many goals they were going to score.
To their credit, Spitfires held out for the remainder of the half, until they conceded an unfortunate penalty in the last minute, which Maddy Elliott converted.
For Bassett, it's a first ever County Women's Cup title, having lost in the final on two previous occasions, including last year.
They also completed the first part of a potential league and cup double. And, with three crucial games to go, it's the South West Women's Football League Eastern Division title that they now turn their attentions to.