Ipswich Town Women looked set to claim an unlikely point, only for league champions Crawley Wasps to come from behind late to snatch a 2-1 victory at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe, on Sunday.
Zoe Cossey had fired Ipswich ahead in the first-half but the table toppers fought back after the break as goals from Faye Rabson and Suzanne Davies saw the points return to Sussex.
Cossey gave the Blues the lead with the first dangerous attack of the game after some great initial work from Amy Nash, with the latter laying the ball into the path of the Town number eleven before rounding the stranded Wasps ‘keeper Frankie Gibbs and slotting into an open net.
The visitors simply couldn’t cope with Town’s high press, with Charlotte Kellett’s constant hassling and physical prowess proving a real problem for Crawley.
Kellett was nearly rewarded for her endeavour on the stroke of half-time but after powering through the defence, she fired narrowly over the bar.
Town started brightly after the restart as they looked to double their advantage, with Natasha Thomas going close early on after beating a defender and firing just wide of the post.
Soon after, Town were dealt a blow as both Lindsey Cooper and Nash were forced off with injuries.
Crawley seemed to be lifted by the enforced substitutions and were soon level as Rabson raced on to a long ball over-the-top before firing past Sian Fagg into the far corner.
Despite drawing level, Crawley were soon dealt a setback as Darcey James was dismissed for dissent.
The Crawley bench were infuriated by the decision and after some confrontation with referee Rob Bareham, assistant-manager Dave Cole was also dismissed from the technical area.
Ipswich looked to take advantage of the visitors’ deficit, with substitute Georgia Box carving out a couple of decent opportunities for the Blues.
Crawley refused to lie down and should have taken the lead as Emma Plewa raced away down the left and burst into the area, but the winger curled her effort wide.
However, the hammer blow arrived two minutes from time as Ipswich failed to close down a second ball and Davies took advantage by lofting her effort into the far corner.
Town looked to respond almost instantly and could have been level but Thomas’ shot flashed inches wide of the far-post.
In the grand scheme of things, a draw would have been a fair result but ultimately Crawley proved why they’ve secured back-to-back promotions as they found a way to win despite a magnificent display from the Blues.
Joe Sheehan’s side remain 8th in the table ahead of their penultimate league game at home to relegation threatened Luton Town next Sunday.
Town XI: Fagg (GK), Pannifer (Box), Cooper (Petley), Cage, Hubbard, Wakefield, Crump (c), Nash (Welton), Cossey, Kellett, Thomas.
Unused: Clarke (GK), Stretch.
Cossey gave the Blues the lead with the first dangerous attack of the game after some great initial work from Amy Nash, with the latter laying the ball into the path of the Town number eleven before rounding the stranded Wasps ‘keeper Frankie Gibbs and slotting into an open net.
The visitors simply couldn’t cope with Town’s high press, with Charlotte Kellett’s constant hassling and physical prowess proving a real problem for Crawley.
Kellett was nearly rewarded for her endeavour on the stroke of half-time but after powering through the defence, she fired narrowly over the bar.
Town started brightly after the restart as they looked to double their advantage, with Natasha Thomas going close early on after beating a defender and firing just wide of the post.
Soon after, Town were dealt a blow as both Lindsey Cooper and Nash were forced off with injuries.
Crawley seemed to be lifted by the enforced substitutions and were soon level as Rabson raced on to a long ball over-the-top before firing past Sian Fagg into the far corner.
Despite drawing level, Crawley were soon dealt a setback as Darcey James was dismissed for dissent.
The Crawley bench were infuriated by the decision and after some confrontation with referee Rob Bareham, assistant-manager Dave Cole was also dismissed from the technical area.
Ipswich looked to take advantage of the visitors’ deficit, with substitute Georgia Box carving out a couple of decent opportunities for the Blues.
Crawley refused to lie down and should have taken the lead as Emma Plewa raced away down the left and burst into the area, but the winger curled her effort wide.
However, the hammer blow arrived two minutes from time as Ipswich failed to close down a second ball and Davies took advantage by lofting her effort into the far corner.
Town looked to respond almost instantly and could have been level but Thomas’ shot flashed inches wide of the far-post.
In the grand scheme of things, a draw would have been a fair result but ultimately Crawley proved why they’ve secured back-to-back promotions as they found a way to win despite a magnificent display from the Blues.
Joe Sheehan’s side remain 8th in the table ahead of their penultimate league game at home to relegation threatened Luton Town next Sunday.
Town XI: Fagg (GK), Pannifer (Box), Cooper (Petley), Cage, Hubbard, Wakefield, Crump (c), Nash (Welton), Cossey, Kellett, Thomas.
Unused: Clarke (GK), Stretch.
