Megan Wearing netted a dramatic 102nd-minute winner as Ipswich Town Women came from behind to beat Cardiff City 2-1 in their opening game of the season at Ocean Park Arena.
The home side went in front via a controversial goal in the first minute when the referee allowed the Bluebirds to take quick free-kick on the edge of the box and Kylie Nolan found the net uncontested.
But, the Blues levelled 11 minutes later when Bonnie Horwood delivered a corner from the right and Leah Mitchell headed home through a crowd of bodies for her first goal for the club.
Town were close to doubling their lead moments later when Sophie Peskett lifted a ball over the top for Natasha Thomas, whose shot was saved by Lauara O’Sullivan.
In the second half, the game was halted for more than 10 minutes due to a Cardiff player suffering an injury which saw her stretchered off.
The host were close to retaking the lead in the 74th minute when Town failed to clear their lines but Poppy Soper did very well to push a deflected effort around the post.
After that, the Blues had chances themselves, with Summer Hughes coming close when she got into space and had a shot from the edge of the area but was denied by a superb save from O’Sullivan.
In the ninth minute of added-on time Town were awarded a penalty, However, Horwood’s spot-kick was saved and the Tractor Girls seemed destined to have to settle for a point in Wales.
But in the 12th additional minute, Cardiff fail to clear a corner, allowing Megan Wearing to slot home at the back-post for her first goal for the Blues and win the game.
It was a well deserved winner for the Blues who had multiple chances to win the game and start their campaign with all three points.
Following the match, Blues forward Holly Turner was taken to hospital after picking up a hip injury in the latter stages.
But she was discharged from hospital, with scans and tests revealing she sustained no serious damage.
The Tractor Girls are back in action this Sunday as they host Billericay Town in the determining round of the FAWNL Cup at the AGL Arena in Felixstowe, with a 2pm kick-off.
The Essex side started their league campaign with a 6-0 win at Plymouth as former Town forward Maddie Biggs scoring four goals on her debut.
Town: Soper, Boswell, Mitchell, Wearing, Hughes, Horwood (c), Robertson, Barker (Turner 86 (Evans 108), Doe (Ev Williams 86), Peskett, Thomas.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here