BECKI Bath netted a first-half hat-trick as Cherries Women ran out comfortable 4-1 winners against Chesham United in National League Division One South West.

The victory kept alive the Dorset club’s promotion hopes going into the final game of the season.

Playing at Vitality Stadium in front of 1,592 supporters, Bath opened the scoring in the 14th minute.

Jade Bradley found the striker free in the box before rounding Amber Taylor to tap into an empty net from a few yards out.

Chesham responded immediately with the league’s top scorer, Gemma Fraser, who curled a shot into the top corner for her 23rd goal of the campaign.

Bath got Cherries back in front four minutes later though, when Katie James' through ball enabled the number 27 to finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

After 36 minutes, the 29-year-old completed her hat-trick in style as she received a long-range pass from James to fire home at the near post with her right foot.

Cherries dominated the second half and Bath then turned provider, setting up James just after the hour mark, allowing her strike partner to finish with a well-placed effort from 10 yards out.

At full-time, Bath revealed her delight at scoring at Vitality Stadium but acknowledged she had tried to keep focused on the game, with so many fans in the ground.

“It was great,” she said.

“It was unreal, I tried to not look at the fans because I didn’t want to be put off and just try to focus on my game and I think that worked.

“I completely shut out most of the noise for the whole game, which now I’m looking back thinking I should have really lapped it up more, but I needed to focus and I knew that we needed the three points.”

Cherries head coach Steve Cuss was delighted with Bath’s performance, which earned her the player of the match award.

He said: “I thought she was outstanding. I thought she was really, really good on the ball, creative on the ball and a real goalscoring threat.

“Obviously scoring a first half hat-trick here at the Vitality Stadium is a memorable day for her as well.”

The hat-trick puts Bath on 17 goals this season and the striker will be looking to add to her tally as Cherries take on Exeter in their final league game.

When asked if the team can overhaul Cheltenham, who are two points ahead at the top of the table, Bath replied: “Definitely, we know we have to get three points next week as well.

“No dropping points anymore and hopefully Chesham, who we played today, put in a shift against them (Cheltenham).”