Fulham Women made it five wins from five in the London and South East Regional Premier League with a fantastic 4-0 win over Sutton United at Motspur Park last night.

The Whites underlined the strength of their promotion push with a comprehensive victory over their south London rivals that was secured by half time. Ella Tagliavini fired Fulham in front with a strike of real quality before a poacher’s header from Sophie Manzi doubled the lead and Megalie Mendes made sure of the three points before the break with a composed finish. Tia Foreman, now fully recovered from a dreadful injury that ended her last season prematurely, added a fourth after the interval.

Manzi had Fulham’s first sight of goal when she connected instinctively with a corner only for her effort to be scrambled off the goalline. The hosts went in front in the eighth minute when Tagliavini capitalised on being afforded the time and space to set herself for a shot thirty yards out and struck a sweet effort past a helpless Mya Francis-Pownall.

Steve Jaye’s side continued to carve out chances with Lily Stevens testing Francis-Pownall’s handling skills with a snapshot and Sunday’s matchwinner Cat Beaver going close with another header. The dangerous Madi Parsonson leathered in a low left-footed drive that drew a sharp save from the Sutton goalkeeper, but United were powerless to prevent the former Dulwich wing-back from creating the second for Manzi. It was the result of a flowing Fulham move that culminated with Parsonson picking out Manzi with the perfect cross and the in-form forward powered home an emphatic header.

Manzi went close to adding her second of the evening after reaching a brilliant ball from Stella Gandee Morgan, but the striker was thwarted by a superb saving tackle. Fulham’s number nine made the third goal nine minutes before half time, floating a fine pass over a horribly square Sutton defence, allowing Mendes to canter clear and caress home with ease.

A rare foray forward for the visitors saw Milly Cutler fire wide from the edge of the area after she seized on a defensive mistake, but the pattern of the first half was re-established swiftly after the interval. Ellie Olds went close to make it four as she shot wide and flicked a header goalwards in consecutive attacks.

The Whites didn’t let up and Gandee Morgan sliced open the Sutton defence with a wonderfully weighted through ball that sent Foreman in on goal. She kept her composure with a lovely bit of close control before beating Francis-Pownall with the finish.

Fulham could have had further goals but the Sutton keeper made splendid saves to deny Gandee Morgan twice and substitute Georgia Heasman, who also saw another late drive deflected wide.

FULHAM WOMEN: Webber, Foreman, Beaver, Gane, Mendes, Stevens, Tagliavini, Parsonson, Gandee Morgan, Olds, Manzi. Subs: Barbier, Heasman, Barron-Clark, Taylor-Makepeace, Jordan.

GOALS: Tagliavini (8), Manzi (23), Mendes (36), Foreman (55).

SUTTON UNITED WOMEN: Francis-Pownall, Allen, Modak, Heavingham-Ford, Walters, Creaser, Harris-Walters, Baptiste, Meehan, Cutler, Clark. Subs: Bussey, Savage, Backhurst, Thomas, Connoley.