Motherwell handed new boss Donald Jennow the perfect start as they recorded their biggest victory of the season, beating Central Girls 9-0 at Braidhurst.
Sammy Hare bagged four goals and Suzanne Mulvey a hat-trick, while Hayley Cunningham netted from the spot and Megan Burns added her name to scoresheet with a trademark long range strike.
It was a highly impressive display from the women of steel, who showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas despite having secured the SWPL 2 title with five games of the season remaining.
Hare opened the scoring within the first three minutes, Cunningham’s corner was only cleared as far as Mulvey who did well to turn her market and deliver the perfect cross for her strike partner to turn home from close range.
It was one way traffic towards the Central goal and on the 10 minute mark, Hare doubled her tally and Motherwell’s advantage.
Cunningham’s cross was parried out by Sarah King, but only as far as Hare who was left with the simple task of knocking the ball into the empty net.
The visitors had struggled to settle into the game but did offer a rare threat on the counter attack and Kennedy almost reduced the deficit before Motherwell struck for the third time inside the opening half hour.
Clare Johnstone in the ‘Well goal started the move with a smart kick out to Kirsty McLaughlin. The midfielder split the visiting defence with a superb pass to skipper Mulvey who drove forward before finishing in her usual composed fashion.
Five minutes later Hare completed her hat-trick, McLaughlin again played a pivotal role in the build-up and the striker calmly slotted the ball low into the net.
The hosts took a 4-0 lead into the interval and they made a blistering start to the second 45 – netting twice within three minutes of the restart.
Firstly, Cerys Gilbride brought down Mulvey allowing Cunningham to drill home the resulting penalty and Mulvey would then add her second goal of the match converting the rebound after King had kept out Hare’s initial effort.
Mulvey, Cunningham, McLaughlin and Hare all passed up opportunities before the seventh goal eventually arrived just before the hour mark.
Kerry Montgomery and Cunningham linked well down the right and when the ball reached the penalty area, it was Hare who yet again was there to turn the ball home.
Hare is enjoying a quite remarkable run of form in front of goal and has now netted 12 times in her last four appearances, taking her total to 20 for the season.
Despite having a seven-goal lead, Motherwell continued to look to add to their advantage and with 20 minutes remaining, Mulvey would complete her hat-trick when she nodded in McLaughlin’s pin-point cross.
The final goal of the game came with 11 minutes remaining, as Burns blasted home from range after a mix up in the Central defence.
Incredibly, Burns’ goal brings Motherwell to 77 in 17 league fixtures this term, with a positive goal difference of 62.
It also completed a dominant display from Jennow’s side that will set them up nicely for next Sunday’s big SSE Scottish Women’s Cup quarter final clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Report: Andy Ross
Pictures: Craig Murray