Tractor Girls Unlucky In Luton Defeat

Ipswich Town F.C Women fell to another disappointing defeat at the hands of Luton Town at Stockwood Park on Sunday despite an incredibly positive performance from the Tractor Girls.

Paige Wakefield had brought Ipswich level in the first-half before the clinical Hatters scored twice against the run of play to take the game 3-1.

There was a slow start to proceedings but it wasn't long before the hosts took the lead. Luton hit Town on the break, with Jess McKay sending Dionne Manning racing away from the Ipswich backline and holding her composure to put the Hatters in front.

The Tractor Girls looked to respond as Wakefield and Tori Campbell both forcing Luton goalkeeper Kezia Hassall into action. 

It wasn't long before Town got their reward and drew level as debutant forward Charlotte Kellett wriggled free of her marker in the area and cut the ball across the face of goal for the arriving Wakefield to tap home at the back-post.

The goal buoyed Town but they weren't able to take advantage of being in the ascendancy as the they headed into the break at 1-1.

After the restart, the impressive Kellett was presented with a glorious chance to fire Ipswich in front after a defensive slip but was denied by an outstanding challenge as she looked certain to score.

To Town's disbelief, Luton launched another immediate counter-attack and the hosts found themselves back in front as Manning once again got in behind and beat the stranded Town keeper' Sian Fagg.

Luton nearly wrapped the game up with just over twenty minutes to go but Lindsey Cooper came to Town's rescue with an alert goal-line clearance.

Ipswich continued to press for an equaliser with Laken Duchar-Clark going close with a header before Town full-back Eva Hubbard - who like Kellett had been called up from the Under 21's side - struck the crossbar with an outstanding driven effort from distance. 

Luton hit the woodwork themselves almost immediately after as Aurora Ryan attempted to curl the ball into the far corner from the left.

However, the Hatters did wrap the game up moments later as McKay burst through the Ipswich defence and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to confirm Luton's first win of the season.

Town XI: Fagg (GK), Ball, Duchar-Clark, Cooper, Hubbard, DeBell, Craddock (c), Wakefield, Moore, Campbell (Turbill), Kellett (Wayne)