Gwalia United delivered a blistering attacking display to dismantle Billericay Town 8-1 at New Lodge in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division, with Cori Williams-Mills starring in a contest that underlined the Welsh side’s dominance.
Williams-Mills struck a superb hat-trick, while goals from captain Ellie-Mai Sanford, Tia Asker, Casi Gregson and Eliza Collie completed the scoreline. Only a late penalty from Erika Lempik prevented the clean sheet.
It was a performance full of pressing, precision and power, with Gwalia’s forwards overwhelming their opponents almost from the first whistle.
Relentless start from the visitors
Gwalia set the tone early, pushing Billericay back with a high press and sharp interchanges down the flanks. Inside the opening minute, Gregson tested home goalkeeper Tyrii Bell, who would go on to have one of the busiest afternoons. Walters and Gregson combined well in the ninth minute, the latter’s strike flashing inches wide. Walters soon had another effort after Ackerman turned over possession in midfield, forcing Bell into action again.
Billericay briefly threatened when Melissa Jones tried her luck from a corner, but debutant goalkeeper Benedicte Haaland – a summer signing familiar to Gwalia boss James Thomas from their shared time at Bristol City – dealt with the effort comfortably.
Moments later, Gwalia’s dominance finally told.
Williams-Mills at the double
In the 16th minute, Williams-Mills swept home after sustained pressure, Bell unable to keep her low finish out.
Barely a minute later, the striker doubled her tally in style. Straight from the restart, Asker found her teammate in space and Williams-Mills rifled an unstoppable shot into the top corner to make it 2-0.
The travelling supporters had barely caught their breath before Gwalia added a third just before the break. Sanford rose highest at a Hilliard corner, powering home to give the visitors a commanding advantage.
And there was still time before the interval for a fourth and fifth. First, Asker drove into the box and drilled low past Bell for 4-0. Then Gregson, released clean through on goal, kept her composure to slot in number five on the stroke of half-time.
It was clinical, ruthless and decisive.
Any hopes Billericay had of a second-half recovery were dashed within minutes.
After Haaland denied Sophie Hart at the other end, Gwalia surged forward again. Hilliard’s corner in the 53rd minute was met emphatically by Williams-Mills, who completed her hat-trick and stretched the score to 7-0.
It was an all-action display from the forward, her movement and finishing too much for the home defence to handle.
The changes kept coming from the bench, but so too did the chances. Gregson, Walters and McGowan all went close, while Bell produced a string of strong saves to prevent an even heavier scoreline.
Collie, introduced midway through the half, eventually got her reward. Meeting a superb Hilliard cross at the far post, she guided in Gwalia’s eighth with a striker’s finish in the 74th minute.
To their credit, Billericay did not fold, and almost grabbed a consolation through a goalmouth scramble in the 87th minute, only for substitute Emma Thomas to clear off the line brilliantly.
But deep into stoppage time, the hosts were handed a lifeline. A penalty was awarded, and Erika Lempik stepped up to send Haaland the wrong way, denying Gwalia a clean sheet and making it 8-1 with virtually the final kick.
It did little to change the overall story of the afternoon.
Gwalia manager James Thomas hailed his side’s “ruthless edge” after the match.
“We knew coming here it would be a tough game, but the players were excellent from the first whistle,” he said. “Cori led the line brilliantly, but I was just as impressed with the energy and pressing across the team. To score eight goals away from home at this level is a fantastic achievement.”
On the late penalty, Thomas was pragmatic: “Of course, we’d like the clean sheet, but I can’t fault the players for their effort. If we play like that, we’ll be a difficult side to stop this season.”
