Goal blitz sees Hethersett go top

Hethersett Ladies 12, Taverham Ladies 2

Hethersett Ladies moved to top spot in the Eastern Region Premier Division with a crushing win over local rivals Taverham.

With midweek results going their way and their closest rivals involved in cup matches, Hethersett knew that victory over the bottom club would take them to the top of the fourth national tier of women's football.

The win takes them three points clear of a group of chasing teams - many of whom still have games in hand on Hethersett.

It looks like being a closely fought contest for the championship and promotion to the South-East Combination with any one of six teams in with a serious chance.

Hethersett were in no mood to allow Taverham to threaten them, although defensive mistakes early on twice allowed a game Taverham side back into the match.

With the league's top scorer Emily Coates in top form, Hethersett were always going to make short work of their close neighbours.

Coates opened the scoring with two goals within a minute in the first 10 minutes of the game. Taverham hit back to make it 2-1 before Coates added a third, only for Taverham to hit back almost immediately to make it 3-2.

From that point it was all Hethersett as the rampant home side pinned the visitors back for virtually the remainder of the game. The speed and power of the Hethersett attackers proved too much for Taverham and it was 6-2 by the interval thanks to efforts from Hayley Martin, Jenna Thirtle and an own goal.

After the break Hethersett found playing up the slope more to their liking than going down it. Taverham were virtually prisoners in their own half. Coates added four more to take her individual tally to seven, Adele McCrory scored a fine individual goal which saw her run from her own half and substitute Emma Mulley wrapped up the scoring seven minutes from time.

This Sunday Hethersett will find the going much tougher when they take on fellow championship contenders Harringey Borough at Easton College (kick off 2 p.m).