Match report: Ipswich Town Women 5-0 Chatham Town Women

This was Town's first-ever league home game at Portman Road, with 10,173 fans attending to watch the Tractor Girls in action, which is a new record for this league.

There was one change to the starting 11 to the team that lost at Portsmouth, with Lucy O'Brien coming in for Ruby Doe.

Eloise King made her first appearance on the team sheet in almost a year, following a series of serious injuries.

Just a couple of minutes in, O'Brien had the first chance of the game, testing Chatham keeper Eligon from just on the edge of the area, but the effort was tipped over the crossbar.

Claims for a penalty were waved away minutes later as Sophie Peskett went down under a challenge after good work from Lenna Gunning-Williams to drive into the area.

Natasha Thomas opened the scoring for Town (Image: Ross Halls)

All-time top goalscorer Natasha Thomas almost broke the deadlock in the 8th minute, as a corner swung in by captain Maria Boswell found the forwards head, but her shot went just over the bar.

After a lengthy stoppage following a clash of heads, Town continued to press, with Gunning-Williams coming close with a header at the back post going just wide of the post.

Town went 1-0 up in the 22nd minute as Peskett won the ball in the midfield before playing through Thomas, who clipped the inside of the near post with a stunning strike from just inside the area.

Peskett made it 2 for Town in the 32nd minute, as she danced through four defenders before firing low into the bottom corner.

It continued to be an absolute onslaught from Ipswich, as Bonnie Horwood fired just wide of the post from inside the area.

Town were awarded a penalty in the 46th minute as O'Brien, who had been troubling the Chatham defence all half, went through on goal, but was tackled by Coombes in the area.

Natasha Thomas celebrating after going 1-0 up against Chatham (Image: Ross Halls)

Horwood stepped up to take the penalty, but her effort was well saved by Eligon in the Chatham goal.

Chatham had their first real chance in the 50th minute as Otesha Charles found herself in space in the Town box, but her pull back could only find a blue shirt.

Chatham hit the crossbar in the 51st minute, with a strike from Ellie Jeffkins from range.

Town went into halftime largely untroubled by Chatham, despite a 51st-minute scare.

Town started the second half in similar vein to how they played the first, with O'Brien taking aim five minutes into the half, but it was kept out by the Chats keeper.

Sophie Peskett on the ball for Ipswich (Image: Ross Halls)

Town had a golden opportunity 10 minutes into the second half, as Peskett was gifted the ball inside the area, but no one was there to turn in her low cross across the box.

Thomas scored her second of the game, and Town's third, as she brought the ball down in the area, taking it past a defender, and slotting past the goalkeeper calmly.

Gunning-Williams joined in the fun, making it four for Town. Great work by Summer Hughes to get away from her marker and play through Thomas, whose delightful and unselfish back heel found the Spurs loanee, who finished into the top right corner.

Chatham came close once again in the 65th minute, as Charles saw her effort rebound off the post after good footwork.

Lenna Gunning-Williams scored Town's fourth (Image: Ross Halls)

Hughes scored Town's fifth, as the ball broke loose in the box, and the Town left-back ran onto it to fire home.

Substitute Ruby Doe almost found an opening following a free kick, which was delivered into the area, but the Arsenal loanee was unable to gather the ball under her control.

Town players were in control all game, with a dominant win to show for it. A game none of the players will ever forget, making history for the Women's team.

Summer Hughes celebrating with the team after her goal (Image: Ross Halls)

Town Starting XI: Hartley (Meollo,74), Boswell (C), Mitchell (Barker,74), Williams, Hughes, Robertson, Horwood (King,88), Peskett, O'Brien (Doe,64), Gunning-Williams (Bryant,78), Thomas

Subs: Meollo, King, Bryant, Doe, Barker

Attendance: 10,173