A hat-trick by inspirational midfielder Claire Thomas, in her 50th game for the side, helped Barnet FC Ladies to a fourth successive Middlesex County FA Senior Cup victory.

The Bees beat Denham United Ladies 4-1 in the 2008 final at Uxbridge FC, before a record attendance of 332.

It was a fine day for the ladies, whose reserves earlier beat Enfield Town Ladies comprehensively by 3-0 in the ninth women's Junior Cup Final.

Barnet Ladies captain Charlotte Herson celebrated her 149th game for the club by winning the Player of the Match trophy, and helping her side to a record fifth Middlesex County Cup victory.

Firefighter Maria Ward, who had been up all night helping deal with a blaze, won the junior Player of the Match award. She showed her appreciation with a double somersault.

In the first match of the cup double-header, before a crowd of 211, Barnet reserves built up a 3-0 lead in 29 minutes, playing good attacking football.

Jade Kite opened the scoring on seven minutes, after being set up by Kerry O'Connor, the celebration somewhat muted for a moment or two, as the tannoy announced not only the wrong scorer but the wrong team.

Ward made it 2-0 after 20 minutes following a good run and cross from the left by Lizzie Goodwin, and captain Nina Welsman added the third with a free kick from outside the box.

Barnet created a host of chances from then on, but could not add to their score.

Barnet FC Ladies were without goalscorer Stacey Sowden (134 goals in 89 appearances) who faces an operation for a cruciate ligament injury. Although she did not play, Stacey won two medals, the first for helping coach the reserves and the second after being named as a substitute for the first team The Ladies, playing in black and amber, levelled matters at 1-1 through Thomas after 17 minutes following an uncertain start. The turning point of the game came three minutes into the second half, when the Denham goalkeeper and defence misjudged a bouncing ball and Madeleine Hills bundled it over the line from close range.

Thomas beat the offside trap to coolly net goal number three and then netted a penalty for handball for the fourth.

Victorious manager Tracey Kevins celebrated, then joined up with the England U19 side in her role as No 2, for a game against Belgium.

Dennis Signy