It’s treble tops for Jess and County
CLARKE CLINICAL BUT ARSENAL ALSO SHINE
JESS Clarke fired her firstever Notts County hat-trick against Oxford United on Wednesday night – and has now set her sights on Continental Tyres Cup glory.
County, who lost in the FA Cup final against Chelsea earlier this month, maintained their perfect record in the Continental Tyres Cup to move top of Group Three with a 6-1 victory at Abingdon United.
Clarke completed her hattrick within the hour while Rachel Williams, Ellen White and an own goal from Demi Lambourne rounded off the scoring for the Lady Pies – the only blight on their record being a late goal from Oxford’s Helen King.
“We want to get to the final of this competition but we can’t get too carried away with anything yet as there are plenty more games to be played,” striker Clarke said.
“We could have scored a few more, but I am really happy with the result. It took us a few minutes to build our confidence, get the ball moving and try to get in behind them. As soon as we got the first goal, we built on it and the confidence started flowing.” Elsewhere on Wednesday,
Chelsea stormed their way to a 3-0 win at struggling Watford – and the Blues did so without a number of their star performers.
Gilly Flaherty and Gemma Davison were the only firstchoice players on show as Linvoy Primus’ daughter Atlanta, Jodie Brett and substitute Millie Farrow all netted in the victory.
Chelsea still have plenty of work to do to make it out of Group One but boss Emma Hayes was satisfied by the showing. “I’ve managed to leave the vast majority of the dressing room at home and bring a group of mostly young players,” she said.
Homecoming
“We got the result I think the performance deserved although there were times where we struggled to move the ball around as quickly as we’d have liked.
“But a good finish from Atlanta Primus came at the right time in the game and I think 3-0 is probably a deserved result from what was a solid performance.”
Meanwhile last Sunday, substitute Courtney Sweetman-Kirk’s second-half hat-trick stunned Everton and earned Doncaster
Rovers Belles a 3-2 victory in what was undeniably the tie of a pulsating day of Continental Tyres Cup action.
Goals from Emily Hollinshead and Ellie Stewart had put the home side in firm control at the break, but Sweetman-Kirk’s intro- duction changed the game as her 17-minute treble turned the tie and handed the Belles a first win in this season’s competition.
Earlier in the day, Chelsea were humbled at home to Group One leaders Arsenal, with Marta Corredera’s first-half double the difference between the sides in record-signing Fran Kirby’s first start for the Blues.
Notts County edged past Bristol Academy thanks to Williams’ strike, while Alys Hinchcliffe, Nicola Cousins and Annie Heatherson fired Yeovil to
a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa. Birmingham City eased to a 3-0 victory at home to Oxford
United.
And in Saturday’s fixtures, England captain Steph Houghton enjoyed a perfect homecoming at Sunderland as she chipped in with a powerful header in Man
chester City’s 3-1 win to send the Citizens top of Group Two.
Liverpool however, who notched up a 1-0 victory over Durham, are hot on their heels
and Reading also secured a 3-0
win over London Bees.