KATIE Wilkinson and Sophia Pharoah both scored twice as Saints Women thrashed Reading 5-0 in the Championship at St Mary’s.
The visitors struggled to live with Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side, who led 3-0 at the breakthrough Wilkinson’s brace and Ella Morris’ calm finish.
Pharoah struck twice in the second half on an afternoon where Saints could have even scored more.
With Sunderland and Crystal Palace dropping points, the hosts are still right in the mix for promotion.
Spacey-Cale made just one change from the Saints team that lost 1-0 at Sunderland a fortnight ago – with Pharoah replacing Alice Griffiths in the line-up.
Morris almost opened the scoring when her run to the edge of the penalty area resulted in her prodding a shot just wide of the post.
Spacey-Cale’s charges deservedly took the lead after 17 minutes when Megan Collett’s cross was headed in expertly by Wilkinson.
A great team move then ended with Morris slotting in a second goal for the hosts after Wilkinson’s clever flick found the England under-23 international.
With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Saints added a third when Wilkinson nodded in Atlanta Primus’ deflected cross – for her eighth Championship goal of the season.
The forward almost completed her hat-trick moments later but her excellent curling effort went just wide.
Pharoah got her name on the scoresheet early in the second half when Reading failed to clear the ball away and the 23 year old struck the ball into the bottom corner.
Pharoah then made it 5-0 to the hosts on 67 minutes as she smashed the ball into the top corner after it had broken to her on the edge of the box.
The home side were able to comfortably see out the rest of the game. Up next, Saints travel to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday, March 24, in their next match.
Saints: Rendell; Collett (Wynne, 82), Mott, Peake, Purfield; Morris, Primus (Griffiths, 68), Kendall, Pike (Lloyd-Smith, 68); Pharoah, Wilkinson (Thompson, 82)
Unused Subs: Haaland, Rafferty, Milne
Reading: Orman; Roberts (Jarvis, 72), Stapleton, Dugdale, Cooper (Smith, 62), Wade; Houssein, Flannery, Estcourt; Wooley (88), Perry (Longhurst, 62)
Unused Subs: Burns, Marashi
Referee: Lauren Whiteman
Goals: Wilkinson 17′
Morris 27′
Wilkinson 35′
Pharoah 54′
Pharoah 67′
