SWINDON Town Ladies’ FA Women’s Premier League Cup aspirations faltered at the first hurdle on Sunday as they suffered a heavy 11-0 defeat at home to Charlton Athletic in the opening round of the competition.

It is the third loss in as many games this season for Leonie Wade’s FA WPL Southern Division side, who are also without a goal in 2017-18.

Charlton – who have made a roaring start to the league campaign with two wins out of two in the Southern Division – needed just 10 minutes to break the deadlock at Cinder Lane in Fairford as Ellie Dorey bagged the first of a four-goal haul.

Charlotte Lee made it 2-0 soon afterwards before two more efforts from Dorey and one from Charlotte Gurr put the Addicks five goals to the good at the break.

Gurr added two more in the second half to complete her hat-trick, Charley Clifford struck twice herself, with Hope Nash also on target, before Dorey rounded off the rout with her fourth goal in the closing stages.

Town will be hoping to earn a maiden win of the campaign when they return to league action at home this Sunday, although they face a stiff task in the shape of early leaders Crystal Palace.