Port Vale Ladies got their season off to the perfect start, hitting nine past Lye Town without reply in the FA Cup.
The Ladies were 5-0 up at half-time thanks to braces from Liberty Windsor (12, 18) and Kim Cartlidge (32, 44), and a strike from Meg Baldwin (25).
It was 6-0 not long after the break when Nat Glenville (49) found the net and 10 minutes later Charlotte Glover (59) made it seven with the pick of the goals, finding the top corner from a tight angle in the six-yard box.
Less than a minute later, Shannis Stanley (60) got on the score sheet with her first and Vale’s eighth, before the game settled into its longest spell without a goal.
With both teams appearing to be playing down the clock, there was just enough time for Stanley to complete the rout, rounding off the scoring with her second (89).
Kyle Adams, Football Development Manager at the Port Vale Foundation, was delighted with the result.
“To play the way we did, dominating the ball against a team in the division above us, was pleasing. It shows how much hard work the new managers and the players have put into preparing for this season,” Adams said.
“There’s a real buzz around the team, which reflects the general atmosphere around the club. It’s great to be kicking off this new era for the Ladies team with a win.”
Ashley Thompson, co-manager of the Ladies First Team, paid tribute to the team’s performance and attitude.
“That the scoreline doesn’t flatter us shows how impressive we were. The team have bought into what we’re trying to do and have worked hard in pre-season. The result is a great reward for their efforts,” Thompson said.
“We’ve now got to build on this performance and take the momentum into the next round, where we’re facing another tough match against a team from the league above.”
The Ladies will host Knowle FC in the Preliminary Round on the 1stSeptember for a place in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
You can now find Port Vale Ladies on Twitter! Follow their official account: @PVFCLadies