Wrexham AFC Women claimed an excellent 5-1 victory over Barry Town United at Jenner Park, with striker Rosie Hughes netting five goals for Steve Dale’s side to lift Wrexham to first place in the Genero Adran Premier table.
Dale made one change to the side who beat Pontypridd Town at USW Sports Park, with Del Morgan making way for Charlotte Bolland in goal.
It was Wrexham who started the strongest of the sides, building on their good start to the 2023/24 season – having claimed four points from their opening two matches.
Having started the season in fine goalscoring form, Hughes continued to cause undeniable problems for the opposing defence, and Wrexham’s number nine opened the scoring after just seven minutes.
TJ Dickens whipped a free-kick from the right into the path of Hughes, and she rose highest at the back post to head Steve Dale’s side into an early lead in South Wales.
Hughes almost doubled her tally just minutes later, but an ambitious chipped effort from distance drove just wide of the goal.
However, as per usual, Wrexham’s goalscoring striker went on to get her next goal just minutes later, doubling the Red Dragons’ advantage in the 14th minute.
Rebecca Pritchard caused her opposite number a range of problems, with the wide player impacting the game whenever she picked up the ball for Dale’s side.
Pritchard shifted the ball out of her feet and produced a pin-point cross into the path of Hughes, who poked home on her right foot - Barry keeper Erin Brennan got a touch on the ball, but it wasn’t enough to deny Hughes.
The match got even better for Wrexham in South Wales, as Hughes claimed a hat-trick after just 18 minutes at Jenner Park.
Pritchard put yet another fine ball into the box, finding Wrexham’s number nine in the box and the 27-year-old striker made no mistake from close-range to score her third of the afternoon.
Louisha Doran went close on the brink of half-time, but the visitors were forced to settle for a three-goal lead at the interval.
After an exhalating opening 45 minutes, Dale’s side continued in the same fashion and were relentless in their attempts to add more goals onto their first half showing.
Hughes made it four goals in the 53rd minute, as she made an excellent run before lifting it over the oncoming Brennan in the Barry goal to make it 4-0 to the Red Dragons.
If the match wasn’t already sealed for Wrexham, Hughes made sure that three points would be going back to North Wales as she netted her fifth goal of the match in the 66th minute.
Yet again, the forward was in outstanding form, and rounded Brennan from close-range to fire into an empty net and round of a brilliant performance to score her seventh league goal of the season.
Barry would grab a consolation goal late on, as Lucy Attwood made it 5-1 with minutes to spare, but it wouldn’t dampen Wrexham’s spirits as they claimed an impressive victory to lift them into first place in the league table.
Wrexham AFC: Bolland, Davies, Allen, Doran (Sharp 63’), Lovett (C. Jones 60’), Dickens, L. Jones (Whitefoot 78’), Lightfoot, Gibbard, Pritchard, Hughes (Spearing 78’).
Sub not used: Ankers.