Phoebie Poole scored a perfect hat-trick as Cardiff City defeated Briton Ferry Llansawel 6-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The victory at the home of Welsh football secures at a minimum a third-placed finish for the Bluebirds with one league game remaining.
Zoe Atkins graced the national stadium turf with the opening goal before doubling her tally to take her up to third in the scorer charts.
In between Atkins’ brace, Phoebie Poole scored her first of three and now stands as the divisional top scorer with 12 goals in 13 matches after scoring three goals in 21 minutes.
Catherine Walsh topped off a fine performance as she scored the only goal of the second-half.
Briton Ferry tried to upset their hosts early on as Chelsea Deacon looked for a through ball only to see Cardiff clear.
Cardiff settled and scored an early goal. Catherine Walsh picked the ball up and took a shot from just outside the area which fell into the path of Atkins who fired it into the corner of the goal.
In search of an immediate response, Renee Day managed to break the Cardiff backline and take a shot but Charlotte Hastings was able to make the save.
Cardiff doubled their lead as Siobhan Walsh picked out Danielle Broadhurst in the middle of the pitch. Broadhurst found Poole with her though ball and the Wales Under-17 international put the ball past Young.
Danielle Green was creating chances down the right and almost set up Poole for a third Cardiff goal but Poole was unable to take control of the ball.
The Bluebirds continued to find their rhythm Zoe Atkins got her second of the game. Playing a clever one-two with Atkins and she was found in the box and put the ball under the advancing keeper after 20 minutes.
The home side were non stop attack as Green saw her shot after a nice turn to find space saved.
The nonstop attacks paid off as Cardiff were 4-0 up after just 25 minutes. From a Cardiff corner, Poole was able to poke the ball into the net from close range.
Catherine Walsh who was leading the attacking line for Cardiff picked out Poole’s run with a nice pass to earn a penalty. Poole was running towards goal and was brought down by Young just inside the area. Poole picked herself up and confidently smashed the ball into the net with Young forced to watch it go in.
The home side could have been further ahead before the break. Green saw her sweetly struck left-footed shot cannon back off the woodwork. Green saw another effort go over just before the break.
After a frantic first half, the second began slower with Briton Ferry playing a more compact style to try to contain Cardiff. Lani Hogben tried to set the visitors on the attack but she overhit her pass as the rain came down in Cardiff.
Green continued her good play down the right in the second half as she found Atkins in the box. Atkins tried to back heel the ball into the path of Poole but Briton Ferry were able to clear.
Ten minutes into the second half and it was six of the best as taliswoman Walsh got in on the action. Catherine Walsh curling a shot from the edge of the box past the reaching hand of Young.
Cardiff continued to probe away at the Briton Ferry defence who worked hard to contain their hosts. Jasmine Simpson tried a lob but found the roof of the net. Sophie Norman saw her long-range effort go wide. Simpson saw another effort saved by Young.
Cardiff City: Charlotte Hastings (G), Ffion Price (Lisa Owen 56), Hannah Daley (Ellie Jones 64), Siobhan Walsh (C), Sophie Norman (Brooke Evans 80), Danielle Broadhurst (Kanisha Underdown 56), Danielle Green, Phoebie Poole (Jasmine Simpson 56), Catherine Walsh, Zoe Atkins, Cerys Pinchard.
Goals: Zoe Atkins 4, 20, Phoebie Poole 16, 25, 36, Catherine Walsh 55.
Briton Ferry Llansawel: Courtney Young (G), Alice Broadley, Anya Welch, Renee Day Amelia Thomas 79), Lowri Ridings (C), Lucy Powell, Ela Roberts, Chelsea Deacon, Lani Hogben, Sophie Topper (Jess Pascoe 84), Alexsie Clayton (Megan Kearle 50).
Yellow Cards: Courtney Young 36.
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