Bianca hits treble as ladies win again

Bianca Baptiste fired Tottenham Hotspur Ladies to a fine 3-0 win against Brighton on Sunday.

The striker bagged a hat-trick as the ladies secured back-to-back victories in the FA Women's Premier League South.

Confidence is now flowing ahead of Wednesday night's derby against Charlton at Sporting Club Thamesmead (7.45pm).

Boosted by last week's 5-1 victory over Lewes, the ladies flew out of the traps against Brighton and were 2-0 up after 11 minutes.

Bianca fired home both goals and was denied a first half hat-trick by home goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne. That treble arrived in the second half when sent through one-on-one, she finished in style to put the game beyond reach.

Manager Karen Hills was delighted. "We were due a result like that because we've played well in recent weeks without the rewards," she said. "This time, it all came together.

"We really took the game to them and took the lead with a fantastic first goal, great interplay between Lucia Leon and Andra Marcoci and Bianca hammered first-time into the top corner.

"Shannon Maloney and Amy Cooper wouldn't let Brighton play, we kept them pinned in their half and we made it 2-0 three minutes later when Wendy Martin did well to keep a ball alive in the box and Bianca pounced on it and drilled home.

"Unfortunately, Wendy was injured in that and had to go off, she was a big miss and that injury set us back a bit.

"They had a purple patch at the start of the second half, had a lot of possession but we ground it out. Robyn Downie and Derrie O'Halloran were excellent and Sarah Walters did well in goal.

"The key moment came on 70 minutes when Rosie Kmita (ex-Spur) had a goal disallowed and we broke up the other end, Bianca went through one-on-one and lobbed the goalkeeper. It was a great way to get her hat-trick.

"The girls are really confident now, playing well and the only shame is we'll lose a couple to injury when we play Charlton on Wednesday, but we'll go there in a positive frame of mind."

Spurs Ladies vs Brighton: Walters; Albertsen (Cheeseman, 75), Downie, O'Halloran, Smith; Cooper, Maloney, Martin (Vio, 11; Dolby, 46); Marcoci, Baptiste, Leon. Unused sub: Gamble.