Fulham Women eased into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after firing five goals past Newhaven Ladies on the south coast yesterday afternoon.

Steve Jaye made several changes to his regular starting line-up for Fulham’s first Cup fixture of the new campaign. Three members of the Whites’ new under-18 development squad stepped up to senior duty including Holly Cowan, who replaced Edie Kelly in goal, whilst Milla Lewis and Ilana Harris-Walters were named amongst the substitutes. The Whites were on the front foot from the outset but disciplined Newhaven defending meant the visitors had to wait until nine minutes before the break to open the scoring.

The experienced Annie Thomas played a big part in breaking the deadlock with a lovely bit of skill to keep an attack going and she supplied a superb cross for Helen Ogle to convert. Thomas was the provider for Charmaine True to make it two six minutes later with the former Pompey striker finding the bottom corner with an emphatic finish. The in-form forward added a third two minutes after the interval by skipping round the goalkeeper to make the most of a beautiful through ball from Megalie Mendes before Ogle headed in another seconds later from Tia Foreman’s terrific corner.

True turned provider ten minutes into the second period playing in Heasman, who clinically rounded off the scoring on an excellent afternoon for Jaye’s side. The Whites have been drawn at home to Maidenhead in the next round of the FA Cup – with the third round qualifying tie due to be played at Motspur Park on Sunday 23 October, with kick off scheduled for 2.30pm.

FULHAM WOMEN (4-3-3): Cowan; Allen, Konan, Southgate, Bird; Foreman, Thomas, Lambird; Ogle, Heasman, True. Subs: Stormer, Mendes, Lewis, Harris-Walters.

GOALS: Ogle (36, 48), True (42, 47), Heasman (55).