Crystal Palace Ladies end 2018 on high as they sting Bees in League Cup
Ashlee Hincks starred with four goals for Crystal Palace as they ended 2018 on a high by thrashing London Bees 7-2 in the FA Women’s League Cup.
Chloe Burr netted twice with Charmaine True also on target as the South Londoners ended their seven-game losing run in emphatic style.
Laura Pickett and Anna-Laure Davy both scored for the visitors, on a night where both teams were already eliminated in Pool One South.
Palace began brightly in freezing conditions and opened the scoring as former Millwall Lionesses’ star Hincks slotted past Bees keeper Sarah Quantrill from close range.
The visitors were level within three minutes, as Pickett latched onto a through-ball and rounded Shanell Salgado to poke in.
Before the half-hour they were on course for a fourth consecutive come-from-behind win as Salgado misjudged a cross from Davy and fumbled the ball in at her near post, but Palace restored parity immediately with a fine free-kick from Hincks.
The forward completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, and Dean Davenport’s sided found some breathing space shortly after the restart when Burr fired in from 25 yards.
Hincks notched up her fourth of the evening with a header from a corner before Burr secured her second with a clever finish at the far post.
And the scoring was complete with 20 minutes left when substitute True raced through on the break and lobbed Quantrill to grab her first ever senior goal.
Hincks said: “I’ve never scored four goals in senior football before, so this is a first for me. The free-kick was the pick of the bunch, although scoring a hat-trick was a target I’d set so the third was nice too.
“What matters though is that this was the perfect way to end the year as a team.
“This season hasn’t been amazing for us so far and we wanted to come out and put in a performance, which we more than did. We outplayed Bees from the first minute to the last.
“Everyone did their jobs, collectively and individually. We worked as units, which is what you have to do.
“The performance was really pleasing.”
There is no action over the Christmas period with the next round of fixtures on Sunday January 6.
Charlton Athletic Women host Durham Women in a midday kick off at VCD Athletic.
The Addicks are second in the Championship standings – three points behind leaders Manchester United, who have played a game less and have a better goal difference by 19 goals.
And Lionesses face a derby against Crystal Palace Ladies at Bromley FC’s Hayes Lane at 2pm.
The two clubs are right at the foot of the Championship standings. Lionesses have taken two points from their 10 matches.
And facing Palace – just two points ahead – could be their best chance to secure a first league victory of the season.
PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD
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