Sheffield United Women hammer Middlesbrough to set up an FA Cup fifth round tie with Tottenham Hotspur

There were hat-tricks for both Rhema Lord-Mears and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk as well as goals for Bex Rayner, Maddy Cusack and 17-year-old Lucy Watson as the second-tier Blades made light work of their opponents from the division below and got their cup journey off to a flyer.

The result also extends their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches.

Midfielder Lord-Mears headed home Cusack's cross from the right for her first goal of the season on the half hour mark, which opened the floodgates.

She grabbed her second with a long-range effort before close-range finishes from midfielder Rayner and forward Sweetman-Kirk put the visitors in complete control at half-time with a 4-0 lead.

There was more of the same after the break as two quickfire goals from Sweetman-Kirk sealed her hat-trick before Redfearn’s side added a sixth thanks to Cusack’s first goal of the season.

Lord-Mears sealed her hat-trick moments later with another effort from distance and England Under-17 international Watson capped off a great afternoon with her first United goal.

United will travel to London to meet Spurs – who are currently eighth in the top tier of women’s football – on Sunday, 16 May, two weeks after the last game of the Women’s Championship season.

The Blades are currently third with two fixtures remaining, including a clash at home to Liverpool next Sunday. The Reds are currently one place below them in the table on goal difference.