Ipswich Town Women Under 21’s dreams of reaching the WSL Academy Cup final were shattered with eight minutes remaining of extra-time as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal at the University of Hertfordshire on Sunday.
Despite a magnificent display of resilience, Jennifer Echegeni’s strike deep into the added-on period sent the Gunners through to face Manchester United in the final.
In the opening stages of the game the tempo was immense, with both sides vying to get off to a good start.
Arsenal had enjoyed a great spell of early possession but it was Ipswich who had the first real attempt of the game with Paige Peake’s dangerous free-kick forcing Libby Harper to tip over the bar.
Peake was again at the heart of the action as another free-kick caused havoc in the Arsenal area before Charlotte Kellett was unlucky to see her subsequent effort on goal well blocked.
Sadly a positive half for the Blues was brought to an abrupt end as Town keeper’ Leonie Jackson was involved in a nasty collision with Gunners forward Paige Bailey-Gayle, resulting in the game being temporarily suspended whilst she received medical attention from paramedics.
After an almost hour delay and a change of pitch, the game was allowed to resume, with Arsenal immediately looking to get on the front foot.
The Gunners could have gone in front on the stroke of half-time but Eva Hubbard was well positioned on the line to clear the danger.
The Londoners were soon in the ascendancy after the restart as substitute Town keeper’ Emily Goodacre was called into immediate action to thwart a couple of opportunities.
Despite their dominance, Arsenal simply couldn’t break the young Tractor Girls down, with the likes of Lucy Egan, Abbie Lafayette and Peake among a number of Ipswich players putting in colossal defensive performances.
Arsenal may have been on top but Ipswich were still intent on having a go. As the game entered the extended period the Blues found a second-wind and were looking to spring rapid counter-attacks, with Anna Grey in particular a dangerous outlet on the left-wing for Town.
However, the almighty resistance was soon breached in heartbreaking circumstances as Echegeni directed a dangerous delivery past Goodacre to give the Gunners the lead.
Arsenal may have delivered a sucker punch but Ipswich refused to lay down and were unlucky not to level in the final moments as Grey found Mia Cinque but the Town midfielder saw her shot blocked inside the six-yard box.
Arsenal would hold on to secure their place in the final.
Despite bowing out of the competition, the young Tractor Girls can be immensely proud of their performance and as a whole, their unbelievable achievement in their first year in the competition.
Town XI: Jackson (Goodacre), Bedeau (Billson), Peake, Egan, Hubbard (c), Lafayette, Morton (Woodbyrne), King (Cinque), Abrehart (Thomas), Grey, Kellett.
In the opening stages of the game the tempo was immense, with both sides vying to get off to a good start.
Arsenal had enjoyed a great spell of early possession but it was Ipswich who had the first real attempt of the game with Paige Peake’s dangerous free-kick forcing Libby Harper to tip over the bar.
Peake was again at the heart of the action as another free-kick caused havoc in the Arsenal area before Charlotte Kellett was unlucky to see her subsequent effort on goal well blocked.
Sadly a positive half for the Blues was brought to an abrupt end as Town keeper’ Leonie Jackson was involved in a nasty collision with Gunners forward Paige Bailey-Gayle, resulting in the game being temporarily suspended whilst she received medical attention from paramedics.
After an almost hour delay and a change of pitch, the game was allowed to resume, with Arsenal immediately looking to get on the front foot.
The Gunners could have gone in front on the stroke of half-time but Eva Hubbard was well positioned on the line to clear the danger.
The Londoners were soon in the ascendancy after the restart as substitute Town keeper’ Emily Goodacre was called into immediate action to thwart a couple of opportunities.
Despite their dominance, Arsenal simply couldn’t break the young Tractor Girls down, with the likes of Lucy Egan, Abbie Lafayette and Peake among a number of Ipswich players putting in colossal defensive performances.
Arsenal may have been on top but Ipswich were still intent on having a go. As the game entered the extended period the Blues found a second-wind and were looking to spring rapid counter-attacks, with Anna Grey in particular a dangerous outlet on the left-wing for Town.
However, the almighty resistance was soon breached in heartbreaking circumstances as Echegeni directed a dangerous delivery past Goodacre to give the Gunners the lead.
Arsenal may have delivered a sucker punch but Ipswich refused to lay down and were unlucky not to level in the final moments as Grey found Mia Cinque but the Town midfielder saw her shot blocked inside the six-yard box.
Arsenal would hold on to secure their place in the final.
Despite bowing out of the competition, the young Tractor Girls can be immensely proud of their performance and as a whole, their unbelievable achievement in their first year in the competition.
Town XI: Jackson (Goodacre), Bedeau (Billson), Peake, Egan, Hubbard (c), Lafayette, Morton (Woodbyrne), King (Cinque), Abrehart (Thomas), Grey, Kellett.
