In soggy conditions at First Tower’s La Hague Manor ground, St Peter’s Susan Stewart missed a good early chance before injury forced her off and the Saints missed her speed and agility in attack.
Van Der Vliet took a good pass from Michelle Bichard to fire Tower ahead with a crisp execution into a bottom corner.
St Peter worked hard to get back into the game and Tower defender Diana Dos Santos cleared shots from Jo Fuller and Andrea Rowe off the goal-line.
At the other end, Bichard made a powerful run only to be denied by a great save by St Peter’s Helen Lagadu.
Jodie Botterill’s fine cross was then nodded home by Van Der Vliet to make it 2-0 and again St Peter pressed but Fuller and Rowe had further efforts well saved by Tower ‘keeper Krystle Matthews.
Van Der Vliet finished off a fine solo run to complete a hat-trick and later added a fourth with a cross-cum-shot – something of a speciality from Tower players in recent seasons! Lara Couvert netted her first league goal towards the end before Fuller produced a fine finish to give St Peter a late consolation.
St John, the Jersey and Channel Islands champions, who have new sponsors in Office Choice, were two goals up inside eight minutes against St Paul’s on a heavy pitch at St John’s Recreation Centre.
Anna Norlander worked very hard to win the ball and after some neat footwork she found Lori Moran, who struck an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net for St John’s opener after four minutes.
And just four minutes later it was 2-0 as Fiona Mackinnon hit the target following a corner.
Despite testing conditions, both sides continued to play a good passing game.
Beckie Darts made it 3-0 on the stroke of half time.
The St Paul goalkeeper excelled with some fine saves after the break before St John added further goals through Tracy Cahill and Moran, who notched her second.
