Town were knocked out of the Women's National League Plate by Stevenage for the second year in a row after the Herfordshire side came from behind to win 3-2 at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe, on Sunday.
In a game that swung like a pendulum, Louise Godden put Stevenage in front before the Tractor Girls responded through Zoe Cossey and Natasha Thomas. However, the largely rotated Blues surrendered their lead late on as Tamsyn Sibanda and Erin Pope struck to see Stevenage into the second-round
It was the visitors that had the first real chance of the game as Town stopper Leonie Jackson was called into early action. First, Ashleigh Deacon saw her header excellently saved by the teenage goalkeeper, before Amy Makewell's follow up was blocked by the scrambling Jackson and deflected onto the crossbar. Town could only create half-chances and were soon punished for their lack of potency as Stevenage took the lead. Deacon fed the ball to a wide open Godden on the left, who touched inside before curling over the head of Jackson from just inside the area.
Going behind seemed to kick the Tractor Girls into life as they soon carved out their first clearcut chance of the match. Amanda Crump couldn't believe her luck as both her headed effort and follow up were well saved by Tea Oldroyd in the Stevenage net. However, it wasn't long before Ipswich struck back as Zoe Cossey netted her first goal of the season in style. After receiving the ball in midfield, the exciting Town winger danced past several Stevenage defenders with silky footwork before slotting low underneath Oldroyd.
The Blues soon had a quick fire double as two minutes later Thomas towered above her marker to head home Crump's corner and give the Tractor Girls the lead. Town would have another two opportunities to extend their lead heading into half-time through their captain, Crump, but the Blues skipper failed to convert on both occasions.
Town started the second-half the brightest and Cossey could have had another incredible solo goal but she was denied well by Oldroyd, with Sophie Welton unable to follow up from the rebound. The early stages of the half became scrappy before Stevenage drew level not long after the hour-mark. Town failed to clear Gemma Biggadike's corner and as a result the ball fell to Sibanda on the edge of the area, who checked inside before excellently curling into the far corner. The game continued to hang in the balance for both sides as Makewell hit the post for Stevenage, before Thomas arguably could have won it for Town after heading Eva Hubbard's cross straight at Oldroyd.
In the final moments of the ninety, Pope raced through on goal and was brought down on the edge of the area, resulting in a free-kick in a dangerous area and a yellow card for Jackson. Pope stepped up and placed the resulting dead-ball into the corner to deliver a hammer blow to the Tractor Girls and knock them out of the competition.
The Tractor Girls return to action this Sunday in an East Anglian Derby at home to Norwich City in the third-qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Town: Jackson (GK), Dunn (Rossiter), Billson (Cooper), Stretch, Hubbard, Wakefield, Crump (c), Abrehart, Welton (Pannifer), Cossey, Thomas
Unused: Clarke (GK)
Att: 117
It was the visitors that had the first real chance of the game as Town stopper Leonie Jackson was called into early action. First, Ashleigh Deacon saw her header excellently saved by the teenage goalkeeper, before Amy Makewell's follow up was blocked by the scrambling Jackson and deflected onto the crossbar. Town could only create half-chances and were soon punished for their lack of potency as Stevenage took the lead. Deacon fed the ball to a wide open Godden on the left, who touched inside before curling over the head of Jackson from just inside the area.
Going behind seemed to kick the Tractor Girls into life as they soon carved out their first clearcut chance of the match. Amanda Crump couldn't believe her luck as both her headed effort and follow up were well saved by Tea Oldroyd in the Stevenage net. However, it wasn't long before Ipswich struck back as Zoe Cossey netted her first goal of the season in style. After receiving the ball in midfield, the exciting Town winger danced past several Stevenage defenders with silky footwork before slotting low underneath Oldroyd.
The Blues soon had a quick fire double as two minutes later Thomas towered above her marker to head home Crump's corner and give the Tractor Girls the lead. Town would have another two opportunities to extend their lead heading into half-time through their captain, Crump, but the Blues skipper failed to convert on both occasions.
Town started the second-half the brightest and Cossey could have had another incredible solo goal but she was denied well by Oldroyd, with Sophie Welton unable to follow up from the rebound. The early stages of the half became scrappy before Stevenage drew level not long after the hour-mark. Town failed to clear Gemma Biggadike's corner and as a result the ball fell to Sibanda on the edge of the area, who checked inside before excellently curling into the far corner. The game continued to hang in the balance for both sides as Makewell hit the post for Stevenage, before Thomas arguably could have won it for Town after heading Eva Hubbard's cross straight at Oldroyd.
In the final moments of the ninety, Pope raced through on goal and was brought down on the edge of the area, resulting in a free-kick in a dangerous area and a yellow card for Jackson. Pope stepped up and placed the resulting dead-ball into the corner to deliver a hammer blow to the Tractor Girls and knock them out of the competition.
The Tractor Girls return to action this Sunday in an East Anglian Derby at home to Norwich City in the third-qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Town: Jackson (GK), Dunn (Rossiter), Billson (Cooper), Stretch, Hubbard, Wakefield, Crump (c), Abrehart, Welton (Pannifer), Cossey, Thomas
Unused: Clarke (GK)
Att: 117
