Town Women Exit FAWNL Cup to Holders HashtagSunday, 20th Oct 2024 17:21 by Matt Makin
Ipswich Town Women suffered their first defeat in all competitions this season, exiting the FAWNL Cup at the second round stage after losing 1-0 to holders Hashtag United at the Martello Ground this afternoon.
Blues manager Joe Sheehan made six changes from the team that romped to victory at Home Park against Plymouth Argyle in the league last weekend with Laura Hartley replacing Natalia Negri in goal and Evie Williams, Summer Hughes, Kyra Robertson, Issy Bryant and Eloise King coming in for Leah Mitchell, Charlotte Fleming, Lucy O'Brien, Sophie Peskett and Angela Addison, with Mitchell dropping out of the squad for Robertson and the remainder being named on the bench.
Summer signing Grace Garrad, who made her debut from the bench in Devon last week, was also named amongst the substitutes. Former Blue Holly Turner started up front for Hashtag.
Ipswich started brightly and were through on goal in the first minute, Natasha Thomas winning the ball in the centre circle before carrying it and then playing in Bryant one-on-one with Tags goalkeeper Frankie Angel, but the forward slipped slightly just before getting her shot away and Angel was able to cover well.
On eight, Town won the first corner of the game, but Guyatt's delivery was cleared by the Hashtag defence. The visitors broke from the set piece and had a shot on Town's goal, which was easily held by Hartley.
In the 18th minute, there was a defensive mix-up in the Ipswich area when Hartley's pass out was intercepted by Hayley West, who then shot over. A few minutes later Hashtag were on the attack again, Sammy Rowlands getting a shot on target.
On 26, Turner shot from distance, Hartley palming away her effort before holding the follow-up shot. Hashtag hit Town's side netting soon after.
Seven minutes later, Town, having been restricted going forward for a chunk of the first half, got forward with Hughes finding Guyatt on the edge of the box from where she hit a low shot which Angel was able to get down and hold.
As the half moved into its final 10 minutes, Town had their second corner of the game but the ball went out easily for a goal-kick. Thomas thought she'd won the ball from the restart to get through one-on-one, but was flagged offside.
On 37, the visitors took the lead. Courtney Lumley delivered an expert ball into the box from a Hashtag free-kick and defender Megan Wearing's attempt to head the ball clear instead found its way past Hartley and into the net.
Ipswich pushed for the remainder of the half to find an equaliser for the break but could not find a leveller before the referee blew up.
The scoreline reflected the first period, Hashtag having dominated much of the possession and created more chances.
Sheehan made one change at the break, O'Brien coming on for Hughes.
On 48 Rowlands was almost through on goal butWearing was able to take the ball off her toes and put it out for a corner, which the hosts then cleared.
A few minutes later, Town won another corner, this time Guyatt's delivery finding O'Brien on space in the box and the midfielder seeing her thunderous goalbound effort headed over by Tags skipper Grace Gillard.
On 61 Sheehan made further changes with a double substitution, King and Guyatt making way for Fleming and Addison.
Moments later, Hashtag had the ball in the Town goal following Hartley claiming Lumley's free-kick, but the goalkeeper was adjudged to have been fouled.
Hashtag continued to look for a second goal and on 69 Rowlands cut the ball back from the left to Frankie Finlayson, who shot straight at Hartley.
Two minutes later, Rowlands put the ball past Hartley at close range, having been played through by Turner, but was flagged for offside.
Shortly after, Sheehan made his final substitutions, Garrad and Peskett entering the pitch in place of Robertson and Bryant.
As the game approached its end, Town pushed in vain for an equaliser.
On 78 Addison hit a free-kick into the Hashtag wall and on 87, following a succession of Town corners, Addison broke from the left and forced Angel into a smart save low to her right.
Hashtag immediately countered from this effort and Rowlands forced Hartley into a diving save for a corner, which Town then cleared shortly before the referee ended the game.
It was a disappointing day for Ipswich. The Blues ended the game strongly, seeking an equaliser to force the game to extra-time, but ultimately were second best in a game of fine margins.
With league and FA Cup fixtures about to come thick and fast, however, manager Sheehan may find a silver lining in there being one fewer set of games to worry about as the Blues look to concentrate on promotion to the Women's Championship this season.
Ipswich Town Women's next two fixtures are both against MK Dons, first welcoming them to Felixstowe in the league next Sunday (27th October) before the Buckinghamshire outfit return a week later (3rd November) for the first round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup.
Town: Hartley, Boswell, Williams, Wearing, Hughes (O'Brien 46), Robertson (Garrad 72), Guyatt (Fleming 61), Barker, Bryant (Peskett 72), King (Addison 61), Thomas. Att: 532
Photo: ITFC/Matchday Images
Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
Mark added 17:36 - Oct 20We are best out of it I think, as it is a lower league cup competition like the Papa John's Trophy. Prize money for winning today would have been only PS500.We can now focus on the league and FA Cup.
Perublue added 19:11 - Oct 20..and players rested/not risked too Mark.