Town skipper Amanda Crump netted twice as the Tractor Girls won their sixth successive league game with a 3-1 victory over Cambridge City at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe, on Wednesday night.
Lindsey Cooper opened the scoring after five minutes before a spirited response from the visitors saw them equalise through Megan Tonks. However, Crump's double was enough to secure the three points and extend the Blues' unbeaten run to seven games.
Town made a perfect start on an autumnal evening in Felixstowe as they got themselves in front with their first opportunity on goal. Crump delivered a free-kick into the area from the right-hand side and Cooper rose highest to glance her header past Dominika Szary in the Cambridge net.
The Blues soon began to take control of the game and should have been two goals to the good just minutes later but Sophie Peskett's powerful shot was well dealt with by Szary.
The visitors soon started to grow into the game and could have been level after Sofia Castiglione unleashed a dangerous free-kick towards goal but Town goalkeeper Nikita Runnacles made a terrific one-handed save to keep her side in front.
However, that was to be in vein as Cambridge City equalised just moments later. After knocking the ball past Lucy Egan, the lively Laura Mills flashed a dangerous ball across goal and found the arriving Tonks, who powered her header past the helpless Runnacles.
The Tractor Girls restored their lead seven minutes from the break with a moment of sheer quality. Egan played an outstanding defence-splitting through ball into the path of Crump, who broke through on goal before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting into an open net.
Ipswich would have one final chance before the half-time whistle but Natasha Thomas saw her towering header excellently saved by Szary.
The two sides continued to jostle for control of the game after the restart and it was Cambridge who went closest through Mills, but she saw her low-driven effort well saved by Runnacles.
Moments later, Town were unlucky to not have a third as Crump saw her audacious lob from the right-hand side of the area come back off the inside of the post. Ipswich boss Joe Sheehan soon introduced winger Anna Grey and the England U18 international was instantly involved as she saw a couple of dangerous deliveries failed to be followed up by her teammates in the area.
Town were then cursing their luck as they hit the post for the second time in eight minutes. Thomas received the ball with her back to goal and turned before hooking her shot into the woodwork, with Peskett unable to hit the target with her follow up.
Finally, the Tractor Girls were rewarded for their spell of pressure as they found a third goal through their influential captain. On the eve of her 200th appearance for Ipswich Town, Crump pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area before curling a perfect left-footed effort into the far corner to secure her side a valuable three points.
Despite the victory, Town drop down to second in the Women's National League Division One South East table on goal difference, but have a game in hand on current leaders Billericay Town.
The Tractor Girls return to action this Sunday in a rearranged FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie against Royston Town at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe.
Town: Runnacles (GK), Pannifer, Cooper, Egan, Hubbard, Lafayette, Sutherland, Crump (c), Cossey (Grey), Peskett (Abrehart), Thomas (Biggs).
Unused: Jackson (GK)
Att: 134
Town made a perfect start on an autumnal evening in Felixstowe as they got themselves in front with their first opportunity on goal. Crump delivered a free-kick into the area from the right-hand side and Cooper rose highest to glance her header past Dominika Szary in the Cambridge net.
The Blues soon began to take control of the game and should have been two goals to the good just minutes later but Sophie Peskett's powerful shot was well dealt with by Szary.
The visitors soon started to grow into the game and could have been level after Sofia Castiglione unleashed a dangerous free-kick towards goal but Town goalkeeper Nikita Runnacles made a terrific one-handed save to keep her side in front.
However, that was to be in vein as Cambridge City equalised just moments later. After knocking the ball past Lucy Egan, the lively Laura Mills flashed a dangerous ball across goal and found the arriving Tonks, who powered her header past the helpless Runnacles.
The Tractor Girls restored their lead seven minutes from the break with a moment of sheer quality. Egan played an outstanding defence-splitting through ball into the path of Crump, who broke through on goal before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting into an open net.
Ipswich would have one final chance before the half-time whistle but Natasha Thomas saw her towering header excellently saved by Szary.
The two sides continued to jostle for control of the game after the restart and it was Cambridge who went closest through Mills, but she saw her low-driven effort well saved by Runnacles.
Moments later, Town were unlucky to not have a third as Crump saw her audacious lob from the right-hand side of the area come back off the inside of the post. Ipswich boss Joe Sheehan soon introduced winger Anna Grey and the England U18 international was instantly involved as she saw a couple of dangerous deliveries failed to be followed up by her teammates in the area.
Town were then cursing their luck as they hit the post for the second time in eight minutes. Thomas received the ball with her back to goal and turned before hooking her shot into the woodwork, with Peskett unable to hit the target with her follow up.
Finally, the Tractor Girls were rewarded for their spell of pressure as they found a third goal through their influential captain. On the eve of her 200th appearance for Ipswich Town, Crump pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area before curling a perfect left-footed effort into the far corner to secure her side a valuable three points.
Despite the victory, Town drop down to second in the Women's National League Division One South East table on goal difference, but have a game in hand on current leaders Billericay Town.
The Tractor Girls return to action this Sunday in a rearranged FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie against Royston Town at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe.
Town: Runnacles (GK), Pannifer, Cooper, Egan, Hubbard, Lafayette, Sutherland, Crump (c), Cossey (Grey), Peskett (Abrehart), Thomas (Biggs).
Unused: Jackson (GK)
Att: 134
