By Michael Addison
UWE comfortably beat USW 12-1 in the varsity showdown thanks to goals from Eva Maslin, Flo Johnson, Grace Conday, Eden Reynolds and Molly Ryan.
It was a humbling final scoreline that reflected the superiority of the visitors.
To compound the hosts’ problems, USW’s Danielle McBean was taken off at the beginning of the third quarter, twisting her ankle when pressing for the ball.
UWE started the game strongly when Maslin’s driving run and goal served notice of the their intentions.
The away team made it two moments later when Ryan found room, her effort putting UWE in total control.
A rare USW attack on the 10-minute mark allowed attacker Beth Owen to fire the ball past goalkeeper Thaphne Nicolau, giving the home team hope of avenging their previous meeting which finished 23-2 to UWE.
It was short-lived though, as Maslin got her second of the game to put UWE 3-1 up at the end of the first quarter.
Flo Johnson made it a quick-fire double thanks to good team play to put the game almost out of reach for USW at 5-1.
UWE made it 6-1 thanks to a penalty from Maslin, her third of this game from the centre of midfield by the halfway point.
Attacker Daisy David got her first of the game as well as Johnson, getting her hat-trick from a counter-attack situation.
Maslin made it 9-1, taking advantage of USW’s defensive frailties to add to the scoreline, although USW had two attempts at UWE’s goal when Rachael Mayers and Beth Owens were denied by Nicolau.
Ryan was the only UWE attacker who had not got on the scoresheet, but her finish was one of three to be scored in the final quarter and UWE’s 10th.
Substitutes Conday and Reynolds rounded off the emphatic scoreline.