MANAGER Marianne Spacey-Cale hailed the work put in by Ella Pusey over lockdown, after she hit a hat-trick for Saints Women against Buckland Athletic.

The striker’s treble was added to by a goal from Alisha Ware and an own goal – as Saints made it two wins out of two with a 5-1 victory in National Division One South West.

Pusey now has five goals in Saints’ opening two contests, having notched a brace against Poole Town on the opening day of the season.

Speaking about the striker, Spacey-Cale told the club website: “Delighted for her.

“She’s come back from lockdown and she’s really concentrated on finishing and done some work there.

“But she’s also worked on her physical fitness as well. So really pleased for her.”

Beating Buckland meant Saints sit top of the embryonic league table with maximum points.

Spacey-Cale added: “It was a good battle and a good game of football where they had some real good moments. When we were a bit calmer with the ball, that’s where we played out some of our better football.

“I’m happy that we’ve got the three points again, it’s the next step in our journey this season. I thought we played really well again in parts.

“Buckland gave us a really good game. They were strong, they pressed us a few times, but the girls worked that out and played a different way.

“Pleased with how the players made decisions on the pitch and changed the game a little bit through their own decision making.”