Women cruise into Hampshire Cup final

Star of the showing was Rachel Panting, who netted four of Saints' six goal haul, but she had plenty of thanks owing to strike partner Shannon Albuery, who set up the lion's share of goals.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale's side were worthy winners on the night, and dominated from start to finish in front of a 250 strong crowd, who were treated to a near perfect red and white display.

It took Saints the best part of half an hour to break the deadlock, but plenty of goals flowed thereafter.

Captain Shannon Sievwright opened the scoring from the spot, smashing her penalty off the inside of the post with pinpoint precision in the 27th minute - after Albuery had clashed with a Moneyfields defender in the box.

Barely 60 seconds had escaped before the hosts were two to the good; Panting finding the net for the second game running, having scored Saints' consolation in the weekend's FA Cup exploits.

Two became three shortly before half time, with Panting again the beneficiary of good work from the selfless Albuery.

She'd escaped down the right, and pulled the ball neatly back to the eager run of Panting, who did well to keep pace and provide the finishing touch to a quick-fire Saints move.

The striker then smashed another effort off the post moments later, having rounded the keeper, but the hat-trick evaded her; for now. 

Ten minutes into the second period, Panting completed the treble her performance deserved, and in the 61st minute, had her fourth of the evening.

Predictably it was Albuery who presented the opportunity, racing onto a loose ball and fizzing a cross centrally, where Panting was arriving again to apply a first-time finish.

It was a carbon copy of a previous move, as Saints ran away with the tie and asserted the dominance you'd expect of a side in the tier above their opponents. Substitute Ella Pusey got in on the act late on, to round off the night's scoring.

The last piece of the puzzle was a clean sheet, which the hosts duly earned by maintaining possession, despite a last minute flurry from the visitors, allowing goalkeeper Kayla Rendell, in the main, to spectate.

Portsmouth still have to play Winchester in the corresponding semi-final to determine who will face Saints in the final - but the potential for another derby day cup tie looms.