Ipswich Town 0-5 West Ham United Ladies
West Ham United Ladies beat Ipswich Town in Suffolk on Sunday as they begin their preparations for their first ever senior cup final.
Goals from Tracey Duxbury, Lindsey Morgan, Holly Griffin - her first senior goal - Sam Pittuck and Julia Setford did the damage in a clinical display from Tony Marshall's side, who must now switch their attentions to securing their first silverware of the season in the Essex County Cup final on Sunday.
Jade Dempster was rested as a precaution for the final, so a debut was handed to 16-year-old Ruby Southgate, who has turned in some eye-catching displays for reserves this season.
The visitors side started well and created four clear chances in the first ten minutes. Duxbury was the first to fire wide before Griffin was denied in a one-on-one with the Ipswich keeper. Gemma Shepherd then fired another chance over the bar before a fantastic Griffin volley from a Duxbury cross was just tipped over the bar by the Ipswich goalkeeper.
The pressure eventually told in the 14th minute when a corner to the far post was met by a sweet volley from Duxbury. The Hammers midfield then seized control of the game with Duxbury and Griffin causing particular problems out wide.
West Ham then doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when neat interplay between Shepherd, Pittuck and Southgate resulted in Captain Morgan running onto a through-ball and finishing emphatically into the top corner.
The claret and blue onslaught kept coming and it was only down to the excellent form of the Ipswich stopper that the score stayed at two. However, the away side were not to be denied for long as Griffin soon added a third just before the interval. Jess Barling played the ball forward to Duxbury, whose first-time cross was prodded home by the 16-year-old.
The second half got underway in near hurricane conditions, but West Ham kept pushing and top-scorer Pittuck added a fourth soon after. She ran onto a clever flick from Shepherd and chipped the ball over the 'keeper from the edge of the area for a brilliant fourth.
Manager Marshall then took the chance to change things around, with 16-year-old Fran Tye brought on to replace the hard-working Griffin, Leah Cowan came on for the outstanding Morgan and Rosey Sullivan leaving the field to be replaced by Setford.
Then, with five minutes to go, substitute Setford joined a move started at the back and latched onto a pass from the impressive Pittuck to chip the ball over the stranded goalkeepers' head from all of 25 yards for a spectacular fifth.
The goal completed a comprehensive win for United which gave them the perfect preparation for next weekend's final against Colchester United at Maldon Town FC.
West Ham United: Paris Smith, Rosy Sullivan (Julia Setford 75), Carly Roache jess Barling, Ruby Southgate (debut), Lindsey Morgan (c) (Leah Cowan 75), Sam Pittuck, Tracey Duxbury, Holly Griffin (Frann Tye 65), Katie Holmes, Jemma Shepherd.