Ashford Town 0 Norwich City Women 6

Lauren Hailes netted an impressive first-half hat-trick as Norwich City thumped struggling Ashford Town in west London.

The Canaries lost to Ashford on the final day of last season and therefore missed out on going an entire campaign undefeated, so their desire to win on this occasion was clear.

Andy Cook’s side are yet to drop a point this term and the margin of this victory provided another boost to their goal difference, which could prove significant in a few months' time.

Young midfielder Hailes opened the scoring less than six minutes into the contest, battling past two defenders before bundling the ball home via a deflection.

City moved the ball with purpose in the opening half and reaped the benefits, doubling their lead before the half-hour mark. Ellie Smith was the visiting player claiming the goal after her right-footed effort diverted off Ashford defender Gabby Bishop before finding the net.

Six minutes later, Smith turned provider when she slid the ball into the onrushing Hailes’ path, with the midfielder producing a brilliant dink over home goalkeeper Emma Vigolo.

Hailes then completed her treble in first-half stoppage time with a right-footed drive from distance. Vigolo managed to get a hand on the effort, but it was ultimately too powerful to keep out.

City continued to punish Ashford for their lacklustre defending immediately after the interval, with their fifth goal arriving through Natasha Snelling. Hailes’ central midfield partner Eloise Morran found the striker inside the box and she finished confidently.

While the Canaries were not quite as dominant in possession after the break, opportunities continued to fall to them. Ellie Smith squandered a particularly good chance in the 53rd minute, firing wide despite the Ashford goalkeeper leaving her net open.

That miss evidently frustrated Smith, but she made up for it by firing in City’s sixth goal of the afternoon. Olivia Cook’s shot was saved, but Smith was on hand to bury the rebound with just over 15 minutes left.

City maintained their high level until the end to secure their third clean sheet of the campaign, equalling the tally they managed across the entirety of last season.

Norwich City: Quantrill (c), Medd-Gill, Flye, Strauss, Moore, Morran, Hailes, Cook, Smith, Kennard, Snelling. Subs: Daviss, Powell, Knights, Densley, Shaw.