BASILDON Ladies fired five past bottom of the table Brentwood to continue their good start to the South East Combination season.

It was one of only two matches in the division to survive Sunday morning’s downpour, and Basildon took full advantage with a relatively easy victory.

Basildon got off to a great start by opening the scoring after only four minutes.

Amy Nash made a good run down the right flank and her pinpoint cross found the head of Zoe Rushen, who made no mistake from eight yards out.

On nine minutes another cross from Amy Nash found Karen Stephanou inside the penalty area, but Stephanou’s shot went into the goalkeeper’s body.

Then Nicola Carty received the ball halfway inside the Brentwood half before turning and running at the Brentwood defence.

Carty beat a couple of defenders before her shot from just outside the penalty box went narrowly wide.

But the constant pressure finally told after 27 minutes when Jenny Brown-Wealls’ corner found Claire Lacey inside the Brentwood penalty area.

Lacey’s shot was charged down but Nicola Carty picked up the rebound and turned sharply, and her shot went in off of the post.

Basildon added a third goal after 32 minutes with a superb strike from Jenny Brown-Wealls.

Another dangerous cross by Amy Nash just missed Karen Stephanou inside the Brentwood penalty area.

But Megan Lawler picked up the loose ball and sent another cross into the penalty box which was headed out by a Brentwood defender.

Jenny Brown-Wealls picked up the clearance 25 yards from goal and struck a stunning shot into the top corner.

Hannah Porter then saw her goalbound header from a Jenny Brown-Wealls corner pushed away by the Brentwood goalkeeper on 42 minutes as Basildon ended the half 3-0 up.

On 55 minutes another good move down Basildon’s right flank involving Charlotte Hopwood and Carly Eagles ended with Eagles sending Zoe Rushen clear, but Rushen’s shot went into the goalkeeper’s body.

Basildon’s fourth goal came on the hour mark when Carly Eagles sent Nicola Carty away down the right hand channel, and Carty’s low cross found Karen Stephanou sliding in at the far post to touch the ball beyond the Brentwood goalkeeper.

Basildon’s fifth and final goal came on 71 minutes from Sara Sinclair on her debut.

Carty played in Karen Stephanou down the left flank, and Stephanou worked her way into the penalty box before hitting a low shot that the goalkeeper couldn’t hold, and Sinclair was first to the rebound despite the attentions of two Brentwood defenders.

The final action of the match came on 86 minutes when Carty hit a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area which the goalkeeper couldn’t hold, but the ball was cleared before Stephanou could pounce on the rebound.