Palace Women set a new record with their victory over Durham.
Crystal Palace Women secured their biggest-ever win on Sunday afternoon, defeating Durham Women 9-1 with to hat-tricks from Annabel Blanchard and Elise Hughes.
aPaige Bailey-Gayle replaces Polly Doran in Kaminski’s one alteration.
In the 13th minute, Nolan’s first-time shot from the edge of the box puts Palace up, and Blanchard scores the second to complete off a great team goal.
Blanchard adds to her score by slotting a penalty.
Submitted by Palace Durham 3-0
Blanchard knocks home her hat-trick goal from a corner to make it 4-0 as the Eagles dominate the second half as they did the first.
Hughes gets her first of four on the hour mark, thanks to a combination of Blanchard and
Hughes scores her sixth goal, almost identical to her first, with captaine AimeEverett assisting. Sharpe joins the party, getting on the end of a well-floated Dennis cross.
Another goal, another corner, and
Palace 9-1 Durham FT
With the sun blazing and the crowd at the VBS Community Stadium roaring, Crystal Palace were eager to keep their unblemished record intact as they visited Durham.
Palace opened the game as they meant to go on because, while possession did not benefit the Eagles in the first ten minutes, Palace had the higher quality chances. Paige Bailey-Gayle’s early cross for Molly Sharpe, who volleyed just over the bar at the back post, ignited the game into life.
Durham’s optimistic balls over the top of the Palace back line were easily dealt with as the visitors struggled to reach Saoize Noonan and Amy Andrews in attack.
While Durham faltered, Hayley Nolan excelled.
The Eagles kept up their early pressure, enjoying their football to the tune of a portion of the Palace crowd chanting, “We are top of the league!” There were a handful of gaps in play that slowed the flow as the players stopped to rehydrate in the stifling heat.
As halftime approached, Palace’s continuing dominance led in a beautiful team move that resulted in Annabel Blanchard scoring her second goal of the day in the 43rd minute. The Eagles moved up the pitch thanks to some sharp passes and excellent movement. Blanchard found Bailey-Gayle on the right side, who executed a clever one-two for Blanchard to curl past the keeper.
Elise Hughes was bundled in extra time before the break, under intense pressure from Palace’s attacking play.
It didn’t take long for Palace to build on their first-half domination after the break. Blanchard scored her third goal of the afternoon in the 55th minute, leaping to head home a Shanade Hopcroft corner.
Durham’s defence was no match for Blanchard, who was deep in her arsenal when she hooked up with Dennis, who backed up her first goal last weekend with an assist for Hughes’ first of the afternoon.
It didn’t take long for Palace to make it eight, as Fliss Gibbons whipped in another corner for Hughes to complete her hat-trick.
Despite the heat and being in a strong position to score their biggest-ever win, Laura Kaminski’s team continued to work and chase for every loose ball.
Kirsten Reilly arrowed a drive that shook the crossbar in the 82nd minute, almost scoring Palace’s eighth goal. Lexi Potter made her debut in the 87th minute, with Annabel Johnson, who was also substituted on. Hopcroft and Everett were succeeded by the duo
Hughes, who deftly guided the ball home, scored number nine.
The Eagles are determined not to dwell on their record-breaking triumph as Kaminski’s head to Sunderland next week, top of the Women’s Championship after three games – and having created an afternoon nobody in Sutton or Palace colours will forget for a long time.
Negri (GK), Reilly, Nolan, Everett (Johnson, 88), Gibbons, Filbey (Arthur, 54), Hopcroft (Potter, 87), Bailey-Gayle (Dennis, 45), Blanchard (Guyatt, 63), Sharpe, Hughes are the Palace players.
