Nikki Saunders helped Brentford Women’s First Team progress to the quarter-finals of the Capital Cup scoring a hat-trick against UCL Academicals on Sunday afternoon.

Talking on the team’s win, Saunders said: “I’m really happy, it was our first competitive game after the Christmas break, so I think we did really well.”

It took the Bees just eight minutes to take the lead after Chloe Logie smashed her shot into the top corner from inside the box following a great move which involved Chloe Webb and Kirsty Matthews.

Logie made it 2-0 nine minutes later, before Saunders got her first of the day on 21 minutes after her spectacular strike from 25 yards flew into the roof of the net.

Saunders and Logie linked up a number of times throughout the game for the hosts and were highly influential to everything Brentford did going forward along with Matthews who also scored a hat-trick for the Bees.

Speaking on the early goals, Saunders explained: “I think we all became more relaxed after the first goal went in, then when my first went in it was such a huge relief for me as it’s been a while since I’ve last scored, so it felt great.

“She (Logie) is a great player, despite being so young she’s such a crucial finisher for us so it’s great to play with her and the rest of the attacking players in the team.”

Saunders followed her first goal up with a similar strike four minutes later to get her second and Brentford’s fourth. She did well to find herself with time on the ball once again outside the opposition’s box and unleashed a powerful shot which flew past Lea Poydon in the visitor’s net.

The forward sealed her hat-trick in the second half when her looping cross from the right flank sneaked in at the far post.

“To be honest the last goal wasn’t a shot the other two were, but I was buzzing to get my hat-trick nonetheless,” said Saunders.

The attacker who usually plays out on the left flank was moved into a more central position by Head Coach, Karleigh Osborne in the absence of Sophie Troth who is recovering from an injury.

Saunders seemed to reap the benefits of playing closer to goal as she found herself in a number of great spaces between the UCL Academicals midfield and back-line.

“I’ve always been on the wing and unfortunately it was just through injury which meant that I played in the number 10 position.

“I actually found I got a lot more of the ball than I do out wide so I enjoyed it and I wouldn’t mind playing there a bit more in the future.”

The Women’s First Team’s attention will now turn back to the league as they look to continue their push for promotion this Sunday when they face Whyteleafe away from home.