KENT Schools girls' under-16 football team strode into the semi-finals of the national cup when they trounced Oxfordshire 6-1 at Orpington on Saturday.

The team will now play Hampshire away in the semi-final later this month. Kent were 2-0 up after eight minutes, both goals coming from the prolific Sarah Jane Snare (Homewood School, Ashford).

The first after only three minutes was a superb finish into the top left hand cornber of the net and the second was a free header after good work by Sarah Giles (Darrick Wood, Bromley).

The third came on 23 minutes, this time Giles beating the offside trap to strike.

Kent claimed the fourth of the half on 31 minutes when the Oxfordshire keeper's weak clearance went straight to Karen Ray (Blackfen, North Kent) who chipped home.

Kent were less fluent after the break, but substitute Becky Merritt (Minster College, Swale) clicked them into gear again when she slotted the fifth.

Oxfordshire's Lucy Peacock grabbed a consolation for her side before Merritt claimed her second and Kent's sixth.

Kent: Katherine Earl (Highstead, Swale), Vicky Ashton-Jones (St John's, Gravesham), Elise Briccolani (Chaucer, Canterbury), Anna Broad (Hundred of Hoo, Medway), Natalie Curtis (Astor, Dover), Cori Daniels (Charles Dickens, Broadstairs), Sarah Giles (Darrick Wood, Bromley), Rebecca Merritt (Minster College, Swale), Vicky Moore (Meopham, Gravesham), Rachel Tracy (Herne Bay High), Karen Ray (Blackfen, North Kent), Sarah-Jane Snare (Homewood, Ashford), Amie Wallace (Minster College, Swale), Tanie Law (St John's, Gravesham), Francesca Farrari, Georgina Michaels.