Charlton 8 Aston Villa 2

Strikers Ann-Marie Heatherson and Amanda Barr both bagged hat-tricks as the Addicks crushed lowly Aston Villa and sent the Midlanders to bottom place in the league on Sunday.

With keeper Pauline Cope still injured and manager Keith Boanas unable to sign an experienced replacement, left-back Eartha Pond donned the number one jersey.

Julie Fletcher, recently re-signed from Arsenal, came in on the left-hand side of defence while 19-year-old striker Heatherson made the starting line-up after her impressive display against Fulham at The Valley on November 16th.

Charlton also started without midfielder Fara Williams while striker Carmaine Walker, due to begin a suspension next week, began on the bench.

Heatherson was quickly into the action forcing a superb block tackle from a Villa defender in the first minute as she unleashed an early effort on goal.

Villa then broke away and Pond did well to recover and make a good save after slipping on the wet surface.

However, the opening goal was not long coming and after five minutes an excellent cross from skipper Casey Stoney was met with a volley at the far post by veteran midfielder Jo Broadhurst, who gave keeper Rachel Dobbins no chance.

A minute later Dobbins was picking the ball out of her net again when Barr latched on to a neat throughball from Danielle Murphy, outpaced the visitors' defence and coolly slotted the ball into the net.

On ten minutes it was 3-0 when Fletcher's left-wing cross was flicked into the path of Heatherson for the youngster to hit a powerful volley which stung Dobbins' hands as it entered the net.

And two minutes later there was another goal as Villa hit back and the poorly marked Hannah Smith headed the ball home following a good left-wing cross.

The goalmouth action continued and the Addicks extended their lead to 4-1 after 15 minutes when the ball ricocheted off Heatherson's knee and crept over the goalline.

Villa then made a quick counter-attack and Natalie Courtney sent in a low drive that Pond did well to hold on to.

A shot on the turn from Heatherson then drifted narrowly wide before a chipped effort from Alexa Hunn hit the crossbar, but the game was interrupted for several minutes after half an hour as Villa's Sally Walton was stretchered off with what looked to be a bad shoulder injury.

When play re-started it did not take the Addicks long to get back into their stride and skipper Stoney added a fifth after 38 minutes following good set-up play between Barr and Broadhurst.

And the last action of the half saw Stoney almost add her second with a 20-yard strike that flew narrowly over.

The second half also started with a goal, but this time from Villa's Donna Hawkins, whose speculative 40-yard lob flew over startled Charlton keeper Pond into the top corner of the goal.

Minutes later a well struck free-kick from Villa's Courtney tested Pond, who proved equal to the challenge this time around.

After 57 minutes Heatherson claimed her first Premiership hat-trick as she knocked the ball past her marker and shot accurately into the far corner of the goal.

And Barr then showed why she is the Premiership's leading scorer by hitting two quick goals to claim her third league hat-trick of the season.

After 60 minutes her superbly placed effort from the edge of the area was too high for keeper Dobbins, who could only help the ball into the net. Then two minutes later she ran on to a measured cross from Heatherson to slot the ball past the helpless Dobbins to make the score 8-2.

To their credit Villa continued to battle and substitute Natalie Gibson should have reduced the arrears from another excellent delivery from Courtney, but headed wide.

The result sent Villa bottom on goal difference and extended Charlton's lead at the top to eight points, although second placed Fulham have three matches in hand.

Charlton: Pond, Murphy, Hills, Coss (Loizou 73), Stoney, Fletcher, Hunn, Smith (Rea 62), Broadhurst, Barr, Heatherson (Walker 68). Sub (not used): Bolton. Goals: Heatherson 3, Barr 3, Broadhurst, Stoney.

Birmingham City 1 Everton 0 Doncaster Rovers Belles 3 Bristol Rovers 1 Leeds United 2 Tranmere Rovers 0

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