Ridge stars as Saints march on in the cup
A hat-trick from Emily Ridge helped steer The New Saints Ladies into the second round of the West Midlands Regional League Cup with a comfortable 6-0 passage at Wednesfield Town Ladies.
Substitute Maddie Jones scored twice, with Laure Morris also on the mark as the Saints kept their flag flying in a competition in which they were beaten in the final last year.
The visitors got off to the best possible start as Ridge soon opened her account, then quickly added a second before Morris scored for the third consecutive game.
Ridge then made it 4-0 at half-time, before substitute Maddie Jones quickly scored twice after the break more to make it six.
"We dominated today from start to finish and played the game to an extremely high standard," said manager Joe Thompson.
"We were first-class in every department. Another clean sheet, which is always pleasing, and a performance to match. The football we play is exciting and I'm hoping people come down to watch."
The Saints now look to progress in the Women's FA Cup at home to Bilbrook Ladies at Park Hall Stadium on Sunday (2pm).
Meanwhile, TNS under-12s swamped their Newport Girls counterparts 9-0 with Olivia Henderson (four), Sioned Roberts (three), Mia Kaye and Seren Roberts on target.
Teleri Otaway fired a hat-trick as the Saints under-14s saw off Newport 7-0, Harriet Davies and Marianne Sherwood getting two apiece.
The club's under-18s were edged out 4-3 against Coventry United Ladies.
West Midlands Premier table-toppers Wrockwardine Wood were denied all three points by a last-gasp equaliser at Kingshurst Sporting.
Player of the match Maria Bell got Wood off to a flying start early on when she fired a terrific effort in from 25 yards leaving the home goalkeeper with no chance.
A moment of controversy followed as the hosts were awarded a spot-kick for an incident that seemed to take place outside the penalty area. Kingshurst drew level from 12 yards.
The visitors regained the lead in the second-half as Nicola Mason's free-kick found Natasha Dunning who struck an accurate finish into the bottom corner.
Sporting pushed for a second leveller and it finally came with two minutes to play, but a point was enough for Wood to remain at the top of the league.
In the West Midlands Regional One, North, Shrewsbury Junior Ladies suffered disappointment as they lost 4-2 at Stockingford AA Pavillion.
Katie Doster bagged both goals for Shrewsbury but defensive lapses saw Stockingford take the points.
