Blues return to winning ways
Sarah Kempson was the hat-trick hero as Pompey Ladies bounced back from their Premier League Cup exit with a 5-0 league win over Swindon at Privett Park.
The hosts were on top straight from kick-off and put the Robins under plenty of pressure in the opening stages.
Shannon Sievwright went close to seeing them forge ahead early on, but her shot sailed narrowly past the post.
It took until midway through the first half for the Blues to break the deadlock – and they were rewarded with two goals in as many minutes by the in-form Kempson.
The first saw Pompey get the ball into the box, where several scrambled attempts were blocked until a gap opened up for her to find the net.
And it was a similar outcome just seconds after the restart. This time the midfielder worked her way into space to strike home and double the advantage.
Swindon were finding it difficult to even break out of their own half, with the Blues looking to carve out more chances.
And Gemma Hillier notched her fifth goal of the season on the half-hour mark. Samantha Quayle was the provider, sending in a low cross that the skipper controlled well before turning and scoring at the second attempt.
Kempson then completed her treble just before the break with a stunning 30-yard effort that flew in off the post.
Pompey only managed to add one more goal to their tally as Swindon dug deep in the second half to limit the damage.
That arrived five minutes from the end, with Hillier bagging her second of the afternoon courtesy of a cool volleyed finish from just inside the area.
Caretaker Blues boss Jay Sadler said: “I’m really happy. We’ve prepared this week like we would any other and gone out there to show what we’re truly about. We’ve got our identity back.
“It’s crazy with Kempson – you can score one of them a season, but she ends up doing it once or twice a game.
“But it was a whole team performance. Some of our inter-play was superb and that’s what we’ve been trying to do in training.”
Pompey: Paines, Capel-Watson, Currie, Tonks, Bazan, Sievwright, Stephens (Lusan 75), Hillier (c), Kempson (Peck 85), James, Quayle (Bell 65)
Sub not used: Benson
Pompey have been drawn away to Luton in the first round of the Women’s FA Cup. The tie will be played on Sunday, December 4.