Relentless Pompey take another big step towards title
Ruthless Pompey Women took a huge stride towards the Southern Premier Division title - and eliminated Rugby Borough from the promotion race.
Heading into the
Fratton Park fixture, only the Midlands-based side and Hashtag United could deny the runaways leaders a place in the Women’s Championship next season.
However, Jay Sadler’s clinical side saw off their third-placed rivals with a 4-0 triumph in front of a 2,405 crowd to stretch their lead at the summit to eight points with four games remaining.
The scoreline was harsh on the visitors, with the
Blues having player of the match Hannah Haughton to thank for a string of fine saves.
Nonetheless, this
Pompey team is full of goals and attacking quality and remained a constant threat, particularly with a player of the calibre of Sophie Quirk in their arsenal.
Ava Rowbotham and Leeta Rutherford netted in the first-half, while Ella Humphrey and substitute Daisy McLachlan added the emphatic victory after the break.
Watched by John Mousinho and his young family, along with sporting director Rich Hughes and chief executive Andy Cullen, it marked a wonderful return to Fratton Park for Sadler’s impressive side, where they hope to play more regularly over the next three years.
And the likelihood is next term it will be in the Championship, the second tier of women’s football, following a staggering 15th successive league victory.
Pompey led after only four minutes, Rowbotham scoring a stunning angled finish.
It was 2-0 on 26 minutes when Emma Jones’ corner delivered from the right was headed in by Rutherford.
It represented crucial breathing space, although moments later Haughton pulled off a superb stop to deny Yasmin Mosby.
At the start of the second half, Haughton continued to be tested and, on 56 minutes, produced another fine save, this time to deny Lucy Whipp.
Yet on 62 minutes it was 3-0, very much against the run of play, with a wonderful 20-yard strike from Humphrey.
A fourth arrived on 77 minutes, McLachlan hitting a magnificent right-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner.