Pompey reach cup final with 10-2 Southampton triumph
Pompey Ladies cruised into the finals of the Hampshire Cup with a thumping 10-2 derby victory over Southampton.
Sarah Kemson bagged a hat-trick at Park Community School, while there were also braces for skipper Gemma Hillier and Emma Sherwood.
The Blues will now look to retain the trophy when they take on Basingstoke in April’s showpiece event.
They took the lead after just three minutes when Kempson rounded the keeper and the goals kept flowing.
Hillier then added a second with a half-volley before Southampton reduced the deficit from a corner.
But Kempson soon restored the two-goal advantage after meeting Lucy Quinn’s cross before Hillier slotted home a fourth before the break.
Pompey refused to take their foot off the gas once the tie restarted and substitute Tash Stephens scored a stunning effort with her first touch.
Kempson then completed her treble before Quinn’s close-range header and a Sherwood volley took their tally to eight.
Charlotte Benson was next to find the target to open her account for the club, while Sherwood’s curling effort from 35 yards ensured the hosts reached double figures.
Southampton grabbed a consolation right at the death, but that failed to take the shine off a dominant Pompey performance.
Blues boss Perry Northeast said: “It was a comprehensive victory and we’re pleased to be back in the final again.
“To be fair to Southampton, they played some good football at times, pressed us and caused a few problems.
“If they continue to develop at the same rate they have recently, then they could become a force in years to come.
“The Hampshire Cup is a competition we enjoy competing in and hopefully we can go on to win it again.
“Basingstoke are a more experienced side and we’ll treat them with the same respect as we did Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
“But now our focus turns back to the league. We’ve got seven games remaining and the target is to win all of them and see where we end up.”
Pompey: Beazley; Atkinson (Stephens 46), Rutherford, Taylor (Benson 46), Bazan; Kempson, Clark, Bloomfield (Sievwright 46), Quinn; Hillier, Sherwood