THREE goals in the first eight minutes set Swindon Town Ladies well on their way to a 9-1 victory over Poole Town in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round.

A brace from Abby Picton and one from Laura Morgan meant the game was wrapped up early on, and although Poole grabbed one back, two more goals for Picton and another for Morgan gave Town a 6-1 half-time lead. Picton addded another three after the break to take her tally to seven and complete the rout.

n NATALIE Haigh and Debbie Rose scored the goals as Swindon Spitfires returned from an enforced two-week break with a 2-1 home victory over Oldland Abbotonians.

The club’s last two games were postponed, but they quickly made up for lost time as Emma Skinner’s pass sent Haigh clear of the last defender to slot into the far corner after only seven minutes of the game.

But they failed to build on their early advantage despite having the better of the play during the first half, and were caught out in the first minute of the second period However Spitfires failed to build on the early advantage despite having the better of the play, and were caught out in the first minute of the second half when a mix-up between Cara Costello and Rachel Eley allowed the visitors an the opportunity to level.

Oldlands upped the ante, but with Laura Mason in impressive form at the back they couldn’t find a way through.

Spitfires gradually got back into the game which allowed Vicky Wilkes to fire straight at the keeper from a Haigh corner, and they got their noses back in front on 68 minutes when a Haigh shot was tipped round the post. From the resultant corner Rose’s presence at the near post was enough to see the ball over the line for 2-1.

The hosts went on to finish the stronger as Rose set up Skinner to fire over and then had a header of her own saved at the foot of the near post.

The win keeps Spitfires in third place, two points behind the leaders with a game in hand, going into next weekend’s County Cup clash with Marlborough Town.

Meanwhile, Spitfires’ reserves chalked up an 11-1 win at Lavington in the Wiltshire League, with Emma Pinkney, Katie Wadey, Amanda Martin and Caroline Hook each bagging a brace with the others coming from Zoe Gleaves, Victoria Parry and an own goal.

n Spitfires’ under 16s made the short trip to third placed Highworth Town Juniors and came away with all three points following a deserved 2-1 win. The visitors had the better of the first half chances but it was Highworth who took the lead when Natalie Wood slotted home from a corner at the near post 10 minutes before the break.

Spitfires kept plugging away though, and were rewarded in the 50th minute when Hayley Shipp’s header set Niamh Montague free and she calmly rounded the keeper before slotting home.

Both sides pressed for a winner and Spitfires’ keeper Gabby Bickell did well to tip an effort over the bar on the hour, but it was Spitfires who clinched the game in the last minute as Montague set Emma Adams free down the right and her cross was met at the far post by Shannon Kinsella.

Spitfires under 12s moved five points clear at the top of their league with a 5-0 win at third placed Westbury Youth, but the under 13s lost their first game of the season at leaders Kidlington Youth. And without a league game the under 11s won 6-0 at Kidlington in a friendly, with Courtney Gleed and Rebecca Chitolie netting three apiece.