Teenage winger Sophie Peskett netted her first senior hat-trick as Town continued their unbeaten start to the league season with a comprehensive 7-0 victory over Stevenage at the County Ground, Letchworth, on Sunday.
In addition to Peskett's treble, captain Amanda Crump continued her red-hot goalscoring form with a brace of penalties, taking her season tally to eight. Young midfielder Abbie Lafayette was also on the scoresheet as she scored her third goal in four senior appearances, with an unfortunate own-goal from Stevenage defender Leah Dunnage completing the scoring.
Town took the lead after just five minutes as the Blues were awarded a penalty following a clumsy trip on Peskett. Crump stepped up and sent Hannah Vandersluis the wrong way to put her side in front. Crump would soon see herself once again taking aim from 12-yards as Town were awarded a second spot-kick as Peskett was brought down for a second time. The Blues' skipper stepped up and fired in off the post despite Vandersluis getting a hand to the ball.
The Tractor Girls continued to dominate the game and in the closing stages of the first-half they were unlucky not to add to their scoring following four chances in as many minutes. First, Cossey went close after breaking into the area but Vandersluis was equal to her effort, before Crump headed into the Stevenage goalkeeper's hands. Next, the influential Peskett broke the defensive line but flashed her shot across the six-yard box before Molly Sutherland saw her thunderous effort cannon off the post. Ipswich would have one final chance to go into the break further ahead but Blue Wilson saw her pinpoint low drive excellently saved by the magnificent Vandersluis.
Ipswich continued to dominate after the restart and went close early on through substitute Maddie Biggs. However, it wasn't long before the third goal did arrive as Lucy Egan headed Crump's corner towards goal and the ball snuck into the net following a scuffed clearance from the unfortunate Dunnage. Peskett was having a performance to remember and it wasn't long before the 16-year-old got herself on the scoresheet. Substitute Lafayette broke away down the left before playing into the path of Biggs, who found Peskett, allowing the electrifying winger to turn on a dime and fire into the bottom corner. The immensely talented youngster would soon have a second as she raced onto Nikita Runnacles' long ball and fired low under the stranded goalkeeper.
Peskett then turned provider as she once again raced into the area before scooping the ball over Vandersluis' head for Lafayette to nod in from six-yards. Finally, Peskett rounded off an incredible afternoon for both herself and the Tractor Girls with her first hat-trick in women's football as she was fed through by Paige Wakefield before rounding Vandersluis and slotting into an open net.
The result sees Joe Sheehan's side maintain their unbeaten start to the Women's National League season and rise to second ahead of Sunday's top of the table clash with fellow promotion hopefuls Billericay Town at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe.
Town: Runnacles (GK), Pannifer, Cooper, Egan, Hubbard, Wilson, Crump (c), Sutherland (Wakefield), Cossey (Lafayette), Peskett, Thomas (Biggs).
Unused: Dunn, Welton.
Town took the lead after just five minutes as the Blues were awarded a penalty following a clumsy trip on Peskett. Crump stepped up and sent Hannah Vandersluis the wrong way to put her side in front. Crump would soon see herself once again taking aim from 12-yards as Town were awarded a second spot-kick as Peskett was brought down for a second time. The Blues' skipper stepped up and fired in off the post despite Vandersluis getting a hand to the ball.
The Tractor Girls continued to dominate the game and in the closing stages of the first-half they were unlucky not to add to their scoring following four chances in as many minutes. First, Cossey went close after breaking into the area but Vandersluis was equal to her effort, before Crump headed into the Stevenage goalkeeper's hands. Next, the influential Peskett broke the defensive line but flashed her shot across the six-yard box before Molly Sutherland saw her thunderous effort cannon off the post. Ipswich would have one final chance to go into the break further ahead but Blue Wilson saw her pinpoint low drive excellently saved by the magnificent Vandersluis.
Ipswich continued to dominate after the restart and went close early on through substitute Maddie Biggs. However, it wasn't long before the third goal did arrive as Lucy Egan headed Crump's corner towards goal and the ball snuck into the net following a scuffed clearance from the unfortunate Dunnage. Peskett was having a performance to remember and it wasn't long before the 16-year-old got herself on the scoresheet. Substitute Lafayette broke away down the left before playing into the path of Biggs, who found Peskett, allowing the electrifying winger to turn on a dime and fire into the bottom corner. The immensely talented youngster would soon have a second as she raced onto Nikita Runnacles' long ball and fired low under the stranded goalkeeper.
Peskett then turned provider as she once again raced into the area before scooping the ball over Vandersluis' head for Lafayette to nod in from six-yards. Finally, Peskett rounded off an incredible afternoon for both herself and the Tractor Girls with her first hat-trick in women's football as she was fed through by Paige Wakefield before rounding Vandersluis and slotting into an open net.
The result sees Joe Sheehan's side maintain their unbeaten start to the Women's National League season and rise to second ahead of Sunday's top of the table clash with fellow promotion hopefuls Billericay Town at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe.
Town: Runnacles (GK), Pannifer, Cooper, Egan, Hubbard, Wilson, Crump (c), Sutherland (Wakefield), Cossey (Lafayette), Peskett, Thomas (Biggs).
Unused: Dunn, Welton.
