GLASGOW City stormed to victory at New Tinto Park in their opening fixture of the 2021-22 season.
A hattrick from Jo Love in her first game as City captain helped the away side to a 9-0 win over Glasgow Women in the SWPL Cup.
Lauren Davidson and Jenna Clark both scored twice and Priscila Chinchilla also found the net before an own goal rounded off the scoring late on.
In the first half, it rained goals for the visitors. City were in front after four minutes when Hayley Lauder’s cross from the left was parried by Welsh into the path of Davidson who slotted home from eight yards.
Ten minutes later, Chinchilla set up captain Love who doubled City’s advantage with screamer from 20 yards.
Another cross from the left then led to goal number three on 21 minutes. It was just too high for Naimh Farrelly to get any meaningful connect but her touch meant it felt perfectly for Clark to fire home from the penalty spot.
On 27 minutes, City scored what was almost a carbon copy of the opener. Lauder’s cross from the left was too good for Welsh in the Glasgow Women goal as Love popped up to tap home her second from six yards.
Chinchilla then punished the home side who were caught up in claiming the ball had gone on out of play before she rounded one player and played a cross to the far post that sailed over the head of the keeper and into the far corner.
It was 6-0 just before half time when a corner from the right fell kindly for Davidson. Her initial shot was blocked but she made no mistake from the second attempt.
Conditions took a turn for the worse at half time. It had been overcast in the first 45 and the heavens opened as the players walked off in a deluge that wouldn’t end until well after full time.
A soaked City still managed to add to their tally as the artificial pitch dealt with everything the Glasgow weather could throw at it.
Chinchilla forced a terrific save from Welsh from a free-kick on the edge of the box but from the resulting corner, their was nothing she could do as the ball broke to Clark for her second of the game.
On 73 minutes, Love completed her hattrick with a second stunner from the edge of the box – another early contender for goal of the season.
City rounded off the scoring late on when corner broke to debutant Taylor Fisher whose shot was cleared off the line before rebounding off a Glasgow Women defender for an own goal.
After the weekend’s results, City sit two points clear of Spartans and Hamilton Academical at the top of Group C.
Next weekend Glasgow City make their much-anticipated return to Petershill Park as they take on Spartans in their second group stage match.
Glasgow City: Alexander, Lauder (Michie 53), Walsh (Kats 46), Love, Shine, Clark, Davidson (Fisher 70), Farrelly (Van Wyk 46), Molin (Fulton 55), Chinchilla, Foley. Subs not used: Clachers, Filipa.
Glasgow Women: Welsh, Reid, Henderson, Cunningham, Hamill, Donald, Canavan, Ronald, Wilson, Honeyman, Lyle. Subs: Gibney, Robinson, McGuire, McGoldrick, Bell, Murphy.