Abbie Lafayette was on target on a frustrating afternoon for the Tractor Girls as they were held to a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon, despite a dominant display in their season opener at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe, on Sunday.
Town boss Joe Sheehan named a young side for the Blues' first game of the season, including six players under the age of seventeen. Summer signing Nikita Runnacles also made her debut in the Town net.
The Tractor Girls started brightly but found themselves behind after ten minutes completely against the run of play. Elizabeth O'Callaghan delivered from the right and picked out Helen Ogle, who headed her side in front through the fingertips of Runnacles.
The goal kicked Town into life, with Sophie Peskett an enormous threat down the left. Peskett was unlucky not to level for Town minutes later with a spectacular strike.
After cutting in from the left, she let fly towards goal but was denied by an outstanding tip over the bar from Charlotte Ferguson. Just a minute later Amanda Crump could have levelled after being picked out by Blue Wilson but the Town skipper volleyed wide.
The chances kept coming for Town and finally the deserved equaliser arrived in the final moments of the first-half. Paige Peake's corner found its way out to Wilson, whose shot ricocheted into the path of Lafayette and the young Town midfielder found the far corner to bring the Tractor Girls level.
Town began the second-half with the same intensity and managed to create some early chances.
The Blues should have taken the lead just five minutes after the restart as Maddie Biggs robbed the defender and burst through on goal but the young forward was denied by Ferguson, with Wimbledon hacking the ball away just before the arriving Crump had a chance to follow up.
Chance after chance would continue to fall for Town as Eva Hubbard was next to go close with a driven effort from the edge of the area.
Town's best chance of the half soon arrived as Biggs delivered the ball into the six-yard box for Peskett but the electrifying winger blasted over the bar from close range.
Wilson was next in line with a chance to put the Blues in front but after being picked out by Hubbard, scuffed her volley wide of the post. Immediately after, Wimbledon looked to spring a counter-attack but after making it to the Town area, Katie Stanley curled her shot wide of the post.
The final chance for a late winner soon went begging for Town as Natasha Thomas dropped her shoulder and delivered a dangerous ball across the six-yard box but the ball evaded the out-stretching Biggs and Hubbard subsequently slammed the loose ball into the side netting. Despite being well on top for the vast majority of the game,
The Tractor Girls simply couldn't find a winner and were made to settle for a frustrating draw to begin their new league campaign.
The Tractor Girls return to action on Sunday 25th August away to Southampton FC Women in the determining round of the WNL Cup.
Town: Runnacles (GK), Pannifer (Dunn), Peake, Egan, Hubbard, Wilson, Lafayette, Crump (Wakefield), Rossiter (Thomas), Peskett, Biggs
Unused: Clarke (GK), Cooper
The Tractor Girls started brightly but found themselves behind after ten minutes completely against the run of play. Elizabeth O'Callaghan delivered from the right and picked out Helen Ogle, who headed her side in front through the fingertips of Runnacles.
The goal kicked Town into life, with Sophie Peskett an enormous threat down the left. Peskett was unlucky not to level for Town minutes later with a spectacular strike.
After cutting in from the left, she let fly towards goal but was denied by an outstanding tip over the bar from Charlotte Ferguson. Just a minute later Amanda Crump could have levelled after being picked out by Blue Wilson but the Town skipper volleyed wide.
The chances kept coming for Town and finally the deserved equaliser arrived in the final moments of the first-half. Paige Peake's corner found its way out to Wilson, whose shot ricocheted into the path of Lafayette and the young Town midfielder found the far corner to bring the Tractor Girls level.
Town began the second-half with the same intensity and managed to create some early chances.
The Blues should have taken the lead just five minutes after the restart as Maddie Biggs robbed the defender and burst through on goal but the young forward was denied by Ferguson, with Wimbledon hacking the ball away just before the arriving Crump had a chance to follow up.
Chance after chance would continue to fall for Town as Eva Hubbard was next to go close with a driven effort from the edge of the area.
Town's best chance of the half soon arrived as Biggs delivered the ball into the six-yard box for Peskett but the electrifying winger blasted over the bar from close range.
Wilson was next in line with a chance to put the Blues in front but after being picked out by Hubbard, scuffed her volley wide of the post. Immediately after, Wimbledon looked to spring a counter-attack but after making it to the Town area, Katie Stanley curled her shot wide of the post.
The final chance for a late winner soon went begging for Town as Natasha Thomas dropped her shoulder and delivered a dangerous ball across the six-yard box but the ball evaded the out-stretching Biggs and Hubbard subsequently slammed the loose ball into the side netting. Despite being well on top for the vast majority of the game,
The Tractor Girls simply couldn't find a winner and were made to settle for a frustrating draw to begin their new league campaign.
The Tractor Girls return to action on Sunday 25th August away to Southampton FC Women in the determining round of the WNL Cup.
Town: Runnacles (GK), Pannifer (Dunn), Peake, Egan, Hubbard, Wilson, Lafayette, Crump (Wakefield), Rossiter (Thomas), Peskett, Biggs
Unused: Clarke (GK), Cooper
