Royal Wootton Bassett Town Ladies advanced to the semi finals of the Wiltshire County Women's Cup with a comprehensive 15-0 victory against Melksham Town.

Six different scorers found the net for Bassett, with three - Lauren Kayll, Holly Baker and Emily Arrell - scoring at least a hat-trick as they overwhelmed their County League opponents.

Bassett racked up nine of their goals before half time, though it did take them until the quarter hour mark to go ahead.

Unsurprisingly given the final outcome, they did have chances before that but Emily Arrell scuffed wide before Holly Baker forced a save from the visiting 'keeper with Maddy Elliott hitting the rebound against the post.

Lauren Kayll grabbed the first of five goals to eventually put Bassett ahead, tapping after Lisa Coe raced onto Laura Jefferies' defence splitting past and squared across the box for her teammate.

Baker scored the second five minutes later, lobbing the Melksham 'keeper from twenty yards before making it three with a tight-angled finish.

It was soon four as Amber Egerton finished into the bottom corner after a cross had been floated into the box before a brave run and fine deliver from Baker set up Arrell for her first. Leading scorer Arrell then added her second, slotting home when set through on goal.

Three more goals arrived before the break as Bassett turned the screw. A cross-cum-shot from Egerton sailed into the back of the net, Arrell completed her hat-trick from following a Jefferies delivery before she set up Kayll, who had all the time in the world for her third and the hosts' ninth.

Lauren Usher got in on the act shortly after the restart, firing in from just outside the box. Baker then worked her way past two defenders before slotting beyond the 'keeper to make it eleven.

She produced another impressive finish for her fourth. After beating the offside trap, Baker skipped by two defenders and produced a composed finish.

Three further goals arrived via Kayll to give her five on the afternoon.

Runners-up in the competition last season, Bassett are now a win away from being able to at least match that achievement. Tougher opposition will no doubt await in the semi-finals, with at least two South West Women's Football League Eastern Division rivals set to feature.

Swindon Spitfires - the only team to beat Bassett in the league so far - are through, having received a walkover in their tie against FC Calne. Meanwhile, Laverstock and Ford and Trowbridge Town have also made it through, the former beating FC Chippenham and the latter narrowly defeating County League Marlborough Town.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 20th January 2019 at 19:09