Match Report: AFC St Austell

The visitors set out to stamp their authority on the game, peppering their opponents’ goal from the start. Cardiff took the lead after just four minutes. Kerry Bartlett, returning this season from a spell at Keynsham Town, sent a header looping over the St Austell keeper from an inch-perfect Hannah Mills cross. City piled on the pressure and nearly extended their lead after 10 minutes, however Kelly Isaac failed to hit the target from an Emily Poole through ball.

With the home side pinned back in defence, Cardiff doubled their lead just a minute later. Libby Piggott fired in a looping corner which Cori Williams headed firmly into the top corner. Williams looked to grab another within minutes as she got on the end of an Emily Richards cross, but on this occasion she headed just wide. Another chance came her way minutes later as Emily Poole cut it back to her on the edge of the box, but her shot just edged over the bar. Williams eventually got her second just on the half hour mark. Harriet Lambe played a deadly ball out to Ellie Sargent on the right wing. Sargent cut it back to Williams, who finished coolly from just inside the box.

An increasingly beleaguered St Austell struggled to keep Cardiff at bay, and Williams was denied her third after she turned in a Bartlett shot which fired back off the post, only to find her effort ruled offside. She claimed her first-half hat-trick however in the third minute of injury time.

After a poor first-half performance, the hosts came out fighting. Cardiff dominated possession but struggled to break through, with St Austell showing more aggression to break down Cardiff’s attack. St Austell struggled to create any chances of their own however, and as Cardiff grew back into the game, Ellie Sargent put them 6-0 ahead, turning her marker in the box, her finish giving the keeper no chance.

St Austell’s only real chance of the second half game from a penalty, awarded after Thierry-Jo Gauvain pulled down their forward as she ran through on goal. It wasn’t to be for St Austell, as Laura O’Sullivan tipped the well-struck spot kick onto the bar.

Not content with their 6-0 lead, Cardiff continued to press for more. St Austell held out, but Cardiff were ruthless. Striker Kerry Bartlett completed her hat-trick after turning in a cutback from Cori Williams inside the 6-yard box. Before St Austell had a chance to pick themselves up, Emily Sargent scored another screamer, looping a ball over the keeper and into the top corner from just outside the box. Subsitute Ingrid Aadland nearly got on the scoresheet minutes later, bursting down the left-side, only to see her shot hit the side netting.

Scorers:

Bartlett (3)

Williams (3)

Sargent (3)

Player of the Match: Cori Williams

Laura O’Sullivan stretches to keep a penalty out