TONBRIDGE ANGELS ladies put in a ruthless display to see off their Kent Reliance Women’s Plate hosts Barming.
Having been well beaten on a trip to Barming the previous year, the team were warned not to underestimate their opponents even though were only able to start with ten players.
Tonbridge soon set the tone, going two goals up within two minutes. The opener after just 34 seconds owed much to a perfectly executed cross from Becky Saxby which was converted by Megan Akehurst.
Saxby reaped the reward a minute later by getting behind the defence and delivering a well-taken finish. It could have been three in three minutes but Abbie Skilton’s attempt was well saved.
The home side settled and pulled one back in the eighth minute when Leanne Foster headed back into her own goal.
Barming made life hard for the Angels for long periods and the visitors needed another goal to settle the nerves.
This arrived in the 40th minute with Beth Kemp teeing up Becky Janes for a curled finish. Janes scored again before half-time, picking up a loose ball and ramming a shot into the bottom corner.
There was just enough time for Skilton to get her name on the scoresheet and give Tonbridge a 5-1 lead at the interval.
Despite making three changes Angels’ flow was not interrupted, with Akehurst and Skilton both scoring twice to complete hat-tricks, and by the 63rd minute the score was 9-1.
With ten minutes left Foster barged a Barming forward off the ball in the area, and the hosts scored from the spot.
Lauryn Underhill scored the tenth and Janes had the easiest of tap-ins to complete her own hat-trick after a great run and pass by Courtney Smith.
Tonight (October 18) Angels have a glamorous tie at Charlton Athletic in the Women’s Cup First Round, before hosting league leaders Long Lane Development in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday (October 22).
