Midfielder Paige Wakefield came up with a exquisite free-kick with five minutes to go as Ipswich Town Women battled back to earn a well deserved 1-1 draw at second-placed Billericay Town at AGP Arena on Wednesday Night.
Esme Lancaster’s early thunderbolt had given the Essex side the lead in a dominant first-half but Town fought back valiantly after the restart to ensure the points were shared.
Ipswich started bright with Natasha Thomas finding the arriving Amanda Crump inside the first minute but the Town skipper hit wide.
However, the Billericay dominance soon started to show and they were soon in front as former Blues’ midfielder Kerry Stimson played Lancaster in wide to the right and she found the back of the Town net with a rasping right-footed effort.
Town struggled to find a response to the opener and could have been further behind if Zoe Rushen was able to find the target after a dangerous ball flashed across the Ipswich six-yard box.
Blues’ boss Joe Sheehan made a tactical switch at the break with in-form U21’s forward Charlotte Kellett replacing Nicole Pannifer, with Town switching to a back three.
The change seemed to pay dividends for Town as they began to get a foothold in the game. Soon the chances began to stack up and the Tractor Girls should have been level soon after but somehow Billericay clung on.
Kellett wrestled free of her marker and spread the ball wide to Amy Nash, who whipped a dangerous ball into the area and with the goal gaping, Ciera Flatt’s driven effort was blocked on the line.
Thomas looked to bury the rebound but her effort fizzed across goal and Toni-Anne Wayne couldn’t direct home.
Flatt and Wayne were soon involved in another chance for Town as the latter was played through but she dragged her shot just wide of the far-post.
Finally the equaliser arrived in the final stages of the game as Town were awarded a free-kick for a hard challenge on Sophie Welton. Wakefield stepped up and sent a David Luiz-esque dipping strike over the wall, giving Billericay keeper’ Nikita Runnacles no chance.
It was the least Ipswich had deserved for their endeavour and performance in the second-half, with a draw no doubt the fairest outcome of the match.
Town XI: Fagg (GK), Pannifer (Kellett), Arnoup, Cooper, Hubbard, Wakefield, Flatt, Crump (c), Thomas, Nash, Wayne (Welton).
Unused: Clarke (GK), Cage, Petley
Ipswich started bright with Natasha Thomas finding the arriving Amanda Crump inside the first minute but the Town skipper hit wide.
However, the Billericay dominance soon started to show and they were soon in front as former Blues’ midfielder Kerry Stimson played Lancaster in wide to the right and she found the back of the Town net with a rasping right-footed effort.
Town struggled to find a response to the opener and could have been further behind if Zoe Rushen was able to find the target after a dangerous ball flashed across the Ipswich six-yard box.
Blues’ boss Joe Sheehan made a tactical switch at the break with in-form U21’s forward Charlotte Kellett replacing Nicole Pannifer, with Town switching to a back three.
The change seemed to pay dividends for Town as they began to get a foothold in the game. Soon the chances began to stack up and the Tractor Girls should have been level soon after but somehow Billericay clung on.
Kellett wrestled free of her marker and spread the ball wide to Amy Nash, who whipped a dangerous ball into the area and with the goal gaping, Ciera Flatt’s driven effort was blocked on the line.
Thomas looked to bury the rebound but her effort fizzed across goal and Toni-Anne Wayne couldn’t direct home.
Flatt and Wayne were soon involved in another chance for Town as the latter was played through but she dragged her shot just wide of the far-post.
Finally the equaliser arrived in the final stages of the game as Town were awarded a free-kick for a hard challenge on Sophie Welton. Wakefield stepped up and sent a David Luiz-esque dipping strike over the wall, giving Billericay keeper’ Nikita Runnacles no chance.
It was the least Ipswich had deserved for their endeavour and performance in the second-half, with a draw no doubt the fairest outcome of the match.
Town XI: Fagg (GK), Pannifer (Kellett), Arnoup, Cooper, Hubbard, Wakefield, Flatt, Crump (c), Thomas, Nash, Wayne (Welton).
Unused: Clarke (GK), Cage, Petley
