Town bowed out of the Vitality Women's FA Cup after a valiant effort as Women's Super League side West Ham United edged out the Tractor Girls 1-0 at a sold-out Goldstar Ground on Sunday.
Scottish international Lisa Evans' goal just after the half-hour mark was enough to send the East Londoners through to the semi-finals on a historic afternoon at the Goldstar Ground. A capacity crowd of 2000 gathered at the home of Felixstowe and Walton United as Joe Sheehan's side took on their WSL counterparts in front of the BBC TV cameras.
West Ham started on the front foot and carved out an early opportunity as Zaneta Wyne got past Summer Hughes but Claudia Walker could only bundle the ball wide from inside the six-yard box. The Irons continued to enjoy the lion's share of the possession but the Blues were holding firm defensively and not allowing the visitors to create any clearcut opportunities. Town grew in confidence as the half went on and nearly carved out a decent opportunity as Lucy O'Brien spun Abbey-Leigh Stringer in midfield before driving forward but her through-pass intended for Anna Grey was intercepted by Lois Joel.
Town continued to have a go but it was the Hammers who soon created a couple of decent chances. First, Halle Houssein tried her luck from outside the area but found Sarah Quantrill equal to her shot despite an awkward bounce on the way through. From the resulting corner, Lucy Parker headed down into the ground and nearly found the back of the net but Quantrill did very well to claw the ball onto the crossbar and deny the Hammers defender. Minutes later, West Ham took the lead as the Town backline were split by a superbly weighted pass from Mel Filis, allowing Evans to break through on goal and slot past the onrushing Quantrill to put the visitors ahead.
Town responded well to going a goal behind and were intent on finding a route back into the game, with Natasha Thomas' battle with Hawa Cissoko a constant feature throughout the half. West Ham almost found a second on the stroke of half-time after Joel's back-post cross was missed by Quantrill but Thomas was able to turn the ball behind for a corner.
West Ham came out strong after the restart and had a great chance to double their lead just shy of the hour mark but after spinning Olivia Smith, Walker saw her low shot well saved by Quantrill. After weathering an early storm, Town began to grow in confidence and won their first corner-kick of the afternoon after a determined run from Hughes. However, Abbie Lafayette's delivery was headed away by Grace Fisk. Substitute Silvana Flores was soon involved on her Ipswich debut as she drove forward from midfield but after connecting with Zoe Barratt, the Irons cleared the danger.
The Hammers continued to push for second as Icelandic international Dagny Brynjarsdóttir blasted over from the edge of the area but Town weren't giving up as substitute Maddie Biggs won Town their second corner just seconds after coming on to the pitch. Lafayette delivered but Smith's header was off-target. Seconds later, a ricochet at the back from West Ham almost allowed teenage midfielder Sarah Brasero-Carreira a free passage through on goal but experienced Hammers skipper Gilly Flaherty recovered to avert the danger. The visitors would have the final chance of the game but Brynjarsdóttir headed Tameka Yallop's cross over the bar under pressure from Quantrill.
The Tractor Girls can undoubtedly hold their heads high after a resolute and spirited performance against a strong Women's Super League Side. Focus now switches back to the FAWNL Southern Premier Division title race as Town take on Plymouth Argyle at the Goldstar Ground this Sunday hoping to tighten their grip at the summit of the table.
Town: Quantrill, Hughes, Peake, Smith, Lafayette, Grey (Egan), Horwood (c) (King), Robertson (Flores), O'Brien, Barratt (Biggs), Thomas.
Unused: L. Jackson, Boswell, Hubbard, Bryant
Att: 2000
West Ham started on the front foot and carved out an early opportunity as Zaneta Wyne got past Summer Hughes but Claudia Walker could only bundle the ball wide from inside the six-yard box. The Irons continued to enjoy the lion's share of the possession but the Blues were holding firm defensively and not allowing the visitors to create any clearcut opportunities. Town grew in confidence as the half went on and nearly carved out a decent opportunity as Lucy O'Brien spun Abbey-Leigh Stringer in midfield before driving forward but her through-pass intended for Anna Grey was intercepted by Lois Joel.
Town continued to have a go but it was the Hammers who soon created a couple of decent chances. First, Halle Houssein tried her luck from outside the area but found Sarah Quantrill equal to her shot despite an awkward bounce on the way through. From the resulting corner, Lucy Parker headed down into the ground and nearly found the back of the net but Quantrill did very well to claw the ball onto the crossbar and deny the Hammers defender. Minutes later, West Ham took the lead as the Town backline were split by a superbly weighted pass from Mel Filis, allowing Evans to break through on goal and slot past the onrushing Quantrill to put the visitors ahead.
Town responded well to going a goal behind and were intent on finding a route back into the game, with Natasha Thomas' battle with Hawa Cissoko a constant feature throughout the half. West Ham almost found a second on the stroke of half-time after Joel's back-post cross was missed by Quantrill but Thomas was able to turn the ball behind for a corner.
West Ham came out strong after the restart and had a great chance to double their lead just shy of the hour mark but after spinning Olivia Smith, Walker saw her low shot well saved by Quantrill. After weathering an early storm, Town began to grow in confidence and won their first corner-kick of the afternoon after a determined run from Hughes. However, Abbie Lafayette's delivery was headed away by Grace Fisk. Substitute Silvana Flores was soon involved on her Ipswich debut as she drove forward from midfield but after connecting with Zoe Barratt, the Irons cleared the danger.
The Hammers continued to push for second as Icelandic international Dagny Brynjarsdóttir blasted over from the edge of the area but Town weren't giving up as substitute Maddie Biggs won Town their second corner just seconds after coming on to the pitch. Lafayette delivered but Smith's header was off-target. Seconds later, a ricochet at the back from West Ham almost allowed teenage midfielder Sarah Brasero-Carreira a free passage through on goal but experienced Hammers skipper Gilly Flaherty recovered to avert the danger. The visitors would have the final chance of the game but Brynjarsdóttir headed Tameka Yallop's cross over the bar under pressure from Quantrill.
The Tractor Girls can undoubtedly hold their heads high after a resolute and spirited performance against a strong Women's Super League Side. Focus now switches back to the FAWNL Southern Premier Division title race as Town take on Plymouth Argyle at the Goldstar Ground this Sunday hoping to tighten their grip at the summit of the table.
Town: Quantrill, Hughes, Peake, Smith, Lafayette, Grey (Egan), Horwood (c) (King), Robertson (Flores), O'Brien, Barratt (Biggs), Thomas.
Unused: L. Jackson, Boswell, Hubbard, Bryant
Att: 2000
