Teenage debutant Abbie Lafayette capped off an impressive senior debut as her last minute winner saw Ipswich Town Women come from behind twice to beat Cambridge United 3-2 on the final day of the league season at Mildenhall Town FC on Sunday.
The U’s had led twice during the game through former Town winger Amy Howlett and forward Mollie Coupar but the Tractor Girls pegged them back through Zoe Cossey and Natasha Thomas before Lafayette’s eventual winner.
The hosts got off to the perfect start inside five minutes as Howlett found herself unmarked in the area and turned home a dangerous delivery from the left.
Cambridge were well on top in the first-half and could have gone into the break two goals to the good but Becky Shephard spurned a glorious opportunity at the back post.
Town were simply struggling to get a foothold in the game and didn’t threaten Savannah Smith in the United goal whatsoever.
Just like last week, Ipswich made a triple change at half-time and those changes began to pay dividends as they began to grow into the game.
Both Thomas and fellow forward Charlotte Kellett went close before the eagerly anticipated equaliser finally arrived. Thomas beat the covering full-back before delivering an exquisite cross into the path of Cossey, who powered her header past the stranded Smith.
However, the leveller was short lived as Town conceded almost instantly after restart. The Blues had switched off for a moment and were punished as Coupar strolled through one-on-one before lifting the ball over Sian Fagg.
Ipswich looked to respond once more and were rewarded for their endeavour as Thomas found an equaliser five minutes from time. After pouncing on a loose ball in the six-yard box, she took a touch past a desperate defender and found the bottom corner with an improvised effort.
Then, as the game entered added time, teenage midfielder Lafayette produced a moment she will never forget as she latched on to Thomas’ through ball before calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing Smith to seal victory for the Tractor Girls.
The result sees Joe Sheehan’s side finish 7th in the Women’s National League Division One South East table after a transitional campaign.
Town XI: Fagg (GK), Billson, Petley, Stretch, Cage (Wakefield), Lafayette, Crump (c), Welton (Cossey), Moore, Kellett, Wayne (Thomas).
Unused: Cooper, Pannifer.
The hosts got off to the perfect start inside five minutes as Howlett found herself unmarked in the area and turned home a dangerous delivery from the left.
Cambridge were well on top in the first-half and could have gone into the break two goals to the good but Becky Shephard spurned a glorious opportunity at the back post.
Town were simply struggling to get a foothold in the game and didn’t threaten Savannah Smith in the United goal whatsoever.
Just like last week, Ipswich made a triple change at half-time and those changes began to pay dividends as they began to grow into the game.
Both Thomas and fellow forward Charlotte Kellett went close before the eagerly anticipated equaliser finally arrived. Thomas beat the covering full-back before delivering an exquisite cross into the path of Cossey, who powered her header past the stranded Smith.
However, the leveller was short lived as Town conceded almost instantly after restart. The Blues had switched off for a moment and were punished as Coupar strolled through one-on-one before lifting the ball over Sian Fagg.
Ipswich looked to respond once more and were rewarded for their endeavour as Thomas found an equaliser five minutes from time. After pouncing on a loose ball in the six-yard box, she took a touch past a desperate defender and found the bottom corner with an improvised effort.
Then, as the game entered added time, teenage midfielder Lafayette produced a moment she will never forget as she latched on to Thomas’ through ball before calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing Smith to seal victory for the Tractor Girls.
The result sees Joe Sheehan’s side finish 7th in the Women’s National League Division One South East table after a transitional campaign.
Town XI: Fagg (GK), Billson, Petley, Stretch, Cage (Wakefield), Lafayette, Crump (c), Welton (Cossey), Moore, Kellett, Wayne (Thomas).
Unused: Cooper, Pannifer.
