FOUR goals in the first half saw Cherries cruise to victory at Southampton Women and close the gap on league leaders Exeter City.

Gemma Hillier, Molly Barron-Clark, Lucy Cooper and Maisy Smith were all on target as Cherries eased to a 4-0 victory at Test Park.

The win moves Steve Cuss’s side to within five points of Exeter, with a game in hand a trip to the Grecians still to come.

Cherries got off to a fast start, breaking the deadlock inside six minutes. Katie James, back in midfield having taken the gloves in goal at the weekend, slipped in captain Hillier to slot home.

Alisha Buckingham came close to a second, before Barron-Clark did quickly double the tally with a venomous strike.

Kelci Bowers then won back possession and teed up Cooper to make it 3-0 inside 15 minutes.

And Cherries were not done there, Smith heading in from a Barron-Clark cross.

Cuss’s charges hunted more goals. Chloe Gilroy, Kenni Thompson and Erin Bloomfield all came close, but four goals were more than enough for victory.

Unbeaten Cherries host Torquay United at Ringwood on Sunday (2pm).

Cherries: Scadding, Bowers, Smith, Venditto (Jones, 54), James, Barron-Clark (Treweek, 50), Hillier, Buckingham (Butler, 59), Gilroy, Cooper (Bloomfield, 59), Thompson (McGuinness, 54).