Albion Women lifted the Sussex Challenge Cup for the fifth time in six years after a convincing 5-1 victory over Crawley Wasps last night.

The result was a repeat of last year’s cup final between the two sides as it followed the form book.

Albion Women, three divisions above Crawley, stunned the Wasps with three early goals at the Sussex Football Association’s HQ in Lancing.

The first goal came after just eight minutes, Lucy Somes played through Alessia Russo, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Marie Gillstroem and slotted the ball into the open net.

Kate Natkiel inflicted further damage just two minutes later when she stroked the ball past the exposed Gillstroem.

Somes heaped further misery on Paul Walker’s Crawley side on 12 minutes when she blasted the ball into the top left-hand corner from outside the penalty area.

Somes could have secured her second moments later as Russo squared the ball inside the box, only for the Albion forward to fire wide of the target.

Wasps had the better of the play in the closing stages of the first-half as Naomi Cole registered the first shot on goal, comfortably saved by Leah Samain.

With only minutes left of the half, Crawley found a breakthrough when Natalie Davies picked up the ball inside the area and rifled into a top corner.

Albion dispelled any thoughts of a Wasps comeback after the break when Hollie Olding’s deflected shot fell into the path of Russo to volley home for her second on 53 minutes.

Olding rounded off the evening just before full-time when she slipped the ball past a stranded Gillstroem to make it 5-1.

Seagulls captain Sophie Perry was delighted to lift the silverware: “We always take the Sussex Cup really seriously as you can see by the team we put out.

“Most importantly today we got the goals on the sheet which is pleasing going into the next Women’s Super League game. To score plenty is good for us.”

Albion have lacked goals of late – scoring only once in the last three outings.

Interim manager George Parris was pleased to see his side find their shooting boots.

Parris said: “It was really pleasing to score three early goals and to show we can score plenty is good for us.

“We will take this forward. Obviously we did well tonight but there are a few things to work on in training. It was unlucky for us that we didn’t score more goals but Crawley gave a great account of themselves.”

Both Perry and Parris admitted celebrations are on hold as they will be back on the training ground today.

Parris made four changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Millwall Lionesses, with development squad players Samain and Natalie Taylor coming into the side, as well as Olding and Russo.

Next up for Albion Women is a trip to Aston Villa Ladies as they bid to get their first win of the Women’s Super League Spring Series on Sunday April 2.

Albion Women (4-3-3): Samain; Ritchie; Young (A.Taylor 46), Ashton-Jones (Young 77), Perry; Legg, N Taylor (Barton 58), Olding (A.Taylor 61), Somes (Tubby 46); Russo (N.Taylor 90), Natkiel (Olding 85). Subs not used: Wilson.

Crawley Wasps (4-4-1-1): Gillstroem; Duncan, Stephenson, Walker, Ward; Davies, Elphick, Cole, Rabson; Turbill; Fine. Substitutes: Poleykett, Smith, Callaghan, Boyd, Dunt Referee: Stephen Dedman.

By Shannon Gambling