BEATEN finalists last season, Town Ladies made a convincing start as they set out to go one better in the West Riding Cup with a 5-0 trouncing of Leeds City Vixens.

They took the lead as early as the fourth minute through Jo Atkinson, who then made it 2-0 after Town had struck the woodwork three times before the interval.

Boosted by the experience of former England international Clare Taylor, Town went further ahead as Atkinson completed her hat trick.

That strike proved the killer blow to Vixens and with 10 minutes remaining Sarah Kennerdale laid on a pass for Claire Townsend to score with her first touch after coming on as sub, and player-of-the-match Kennerdale then completed the rout with a close-range shot after a sweeping move.

Town followed that result with a 4-3 victory over Sporting Links Caistor in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup.

The home side were two up inside five minutes, but Claire Gibson clawed a goal back for Town after 10 minutes, only for the visitors to fall further behind when Caistor struck a third.

Andrea Haigh scored directly from a corner to keep Town in the game at half-time, and then playing with a strong wind in their favour in the second half they began to dominate.

With five mintues left they were still trailing 3-2, but a direct free-kick from Leah Moorhouse levelled the game and with extra time beckoning Mel Sherwood netted a fourth to seal a thrilling win.

The Open Age reserve side beat Morley Spurs 2-1 with goals from Rebecca Catling and Claire Allen, while Catling was also on target as the Under 16s beat Doncaster Parklands 3-2 in the first round of the Four Counties Cup.

Goals from Kennerdale and Catling gave them a 2-0 interval lead and Kate Mallin made it 3-0 after the break.

Doncaster hit back with two goals in the last 10 minutes, but goalline heroics by Town's defence ensured a place in the second round.

The Under 14s played the same opposition, but suffered a different result, going down 8-1, their solitary strike coming from Sarah Ford.

* The British Colleges five-a-side competition will culminate at Soccer City, Waterloo, on Wednesday, December 15 (from 11.00 to 4.00).

Eight men's and eight women's teams have qualified through regional rounds and will compete in the finals.

Men: Grimsby, Barnsley, Notre Dame, York, Huddersfield New College, Yorkshire Coast, Stockton Sixth Form, City of Sunderland.

Women: Huddersfield New College, Greenhead, Wilberforce, Notre Dame, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Barnsley.