Kempson hits hat-trick as Blues win again
Pompey Ladies moved up to second in the Premier League Southern Division table with a 5-0 triumph at Copsewood.
Sarah Kempson’s hat-trick means they are now just four points behind leaders Cardiff and have two games in hand over the Welsh side.
The result stretched the Blues’ unbeaten run to 20 matches ahead of Sunday’s Premier League Cup semi-final against Sheffield.
Pompey had to wait until first half stoppage-time before they took the lead at Copsewood, with Charley Wilson poking the ball home from close range.
But they were much more prolific after the interval and doubled their advantage when Shannon Sievwright fired into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Kempson then took centre stage and grabbed her first with a cross from the left that drifted into the net.
She made it 4-0 with a deflected long-range effort before completing her hat-trick in the closing stages.
Blues boss Perry Northeast said: “Copsewood’s game-plan was to defend deeply in order to try to frustrate us. But our players kept going and a great goal from Charley set us on our way.
“We started to relax a bit more once that first goal went in and ended up winning very comfortably to extend our good run.
“It’s great to score a lot of goals once again and I’m also delighted that we were able to continue our impressive defensive record.”
After hosting Sheffield at Cams Alders, Pompey have home matches against Super League outfit Millwall in the FA Women’s Cup and Brighton in the league.
And if you buy two tickets for £3 each on Sunday, then they will also give you entry for the following two matches.
Northeast said: “If ever there was a time for fans to come along and watch us then this is it – we’ve got a potentially explosive month ahead.
“It would be amazing if we could get a lot of fans turn up, get behind us and be part of this adventure that we’re on.
“We’ve got three massive games on three successive Sundays in three different competitions, so it’s going to be an exciting period.”
Pompey: Blakely; Frampton, Currie, Rutherford, Bazan (Bloomfield 68); Quinn, Clark (Hillier 72), Sievwright, Kempson; Umotong, Wilson
Sub not used: Taylor