Albion Women 5 Burton Women 0

ABI Cottam bagged a hat-trick as Albion Women swept aside Burton Albion Ladies FC 5-0 to move into the FA County Cup Fourth Round.

 

Hazzana Parnell and new signing Ellie Sargent also grabbed a goal apiece to ensure the Baggies made it three wins from their last three games.

 

Despite early West Brom pressure, it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring when Baggies keeper Thomas did brilliantly to recover from her own mistake to stop the ball from rolling over the goaline after the initial clearance had hit Burton's Atkin.

 

That missed opportunity for Burton seemed to wake up the Baggies as Cottam and Greaves both forced the visiting goalkeeper Wilsoncroft into a couple of fine saves low down to keep the scores level.

 

It had to take something special to beat Wilsoncroft in the Burton goal and Cottam duly obliged sending a terrific 25 yard free-kick into the bottom corner with just six minutes remaining until the break.

 

The Baggies almost found a second immediately after the restart when Stewart’s drive whistled inches wide past the far post after Mitcham had pulled the ball back from the right-flank.

 

But it was goal machine Cottam who found the net once more to give WBA FC Women a two-goal advantage firing home from close-range after Parnell had cut the ball back from the by-line.

 

Parnell then turned from provider to scorer when a looping half-volley could only be tipped into her own net by Burton goalkeeper Wilsoncroft.

 

Craig Nicholls side were now well in control and made their dominance pay once more when substitute Sargent raced down the right before pulling the ball back for Cottam to lash home for her first hat-trick of the season. 

 

And the perfect day was rounded off in style by debutant Ellie Sargent who finished superbly from an acute angle meaning the Baggies advance through to the next stage of the Birmingham FA County Cup.

Head coach Craig Nicholls was full of praise after the 5-0 win over Burton Albion Lades FC.

“I’m chuffed for the players, but I still think we have other levels to go.

 

“We have a lot of quality throughout the squad now - my decisions are getting harder by the week, but that’s how it should be.”

 

Albion Ladies host Derby County Ladies in the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division next Sunday 22nd January 2017 (ko 2pm).

 

For more information on West Bromwich Albion FC Women you can follow them on twitter @WBAWomen or like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/AlbionLadies