Saltash 0
United 8
(Bell 5′, Everson 11′, 32′, Own Goal 39′, Pengelly 45′, 66′, Barker 76′, Knott 90′)
United’s women took another step towards promotion on Thursday evening, with a huge win at Saltash.
As has so often been the case recently, Ryan Perks’ side made an excellent start and were ahead in the opening stages.
This time it took just five minutes for the deadlock to be broken, although the scorer of it was perhaps something of a surprise, with Kaitlyn Bell lashing the ball home from 20 yards for her first league of the season, against her old club.
The second goal came from a more familiar source six minutes later.
Beth Everson, who many thought should have been awarded a penalty moments earlier, used her past to ghost past a Saltash defender before striking a cool finish across the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to put her side two goals clear.
There were three more goals before the break, too.
Everson doubled her tally just past the half-hour mark, before a slice of fortune in the 39th minute brought about The Gulls’ fourth, as Roxy Thomas’ cross towards Connie Pengelly was headed into the back of her own net by an unfortunate Ashes defender.
The final act of the first half was again a profitable one for the visitors, with Pengelly firing home a free-kick from the edge of the box.
0-5 at the change of ends, but more was to come following the restart.
United’s sixth in the 66th minute was a moment of real quality, with Pengelly catching the Saltash custodian out by firing the ball home from 40 yards.
Ten minutes later, another wonderful goal saw Jas Barker get in on the act as she fired home from distance, before substitute Georgie Knott rounded things off is style just before the final whistle by making it eight.
Results elsewhere meant that United still have some more work to do before they can celebrate, but this mammoth victory serves as another reminder Perks’ side will do whatever it takes.
UNITED: 1. Esme Bradley, 2. Lucy Palmer, 3. Roxy Thomas, 5. Amii Kearley, 8. Kaitlyn Bell, 9. Beth Everson, 10. Connie Pengelly, 14. Jasmine Barker, 16. Jess Geach, 20. Tee Kaptein, 29. Mollie Taylor (c).
SUBS: 13. Ellie Mitchell, 15. Georgie Knott, 19. Bex McMullin, 20. Hope Brinicombe, 26. Ella Pawley.
