Cossey hits hat-trick as Tractor Girls dismantle Denham

FA Premier League South East Div One Denham United 1 Ipswich Town 6

Zoe Cossey hit her second hat-trick of the season as Ipswich Town Ladies demolished Denham United 6-1 at The Den, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday. Town captain Amanda Crump scored from the penalty spot, with Gemma Moore and Natasha Thomas completing the scoring for the outstanding Blues.

With a number of first-team players unavailable, Town manager Ralph Pruden was forced to field a makeshift back four, deploying full-back Nicole Pannifer and central midfielder Jordan Arnoup at the heart of the defence. However this didn’t phase the Blues as they took the lead inside 30 seconds when Cossey showed great feet on the D before unleashing a high driven effort over the head of Denham keeper’ Gracie Perkis.

Cossey got hers and Town’s second midway through the first-half after reacting quickest to a goalkeeping error. Perkis failed to deal with Crump’s delivery, spilling the ball into the path of Cossey - who nodded home from close range.

Town were awarded a penalty eight minutes after the restart when Thomas was heavily brought down in the area. Skipper Crump once again held her nerve and dispatched the spot-kick into the top right corner - the third penalty she’s scored in the last two games. Moore then got Town’s fourth of the afternoon as she stabbed home at the back post following a huge goalmouth scramble - her second goal in as many games.

Despite being well out of the game, Denham scored themselves a phenomenal consolation goal as Alissa Down picked up the ball 30-yards from goal and let fly with a rasping effort into the top right corner, giving Town keeper’ Sian Fagg no chance. However Town restored their four-goal cushion five minutes from time as Thomas slotted into an open net following a calamitous miskick from Perkis.

Cossey completed the rout and sealed her hat-trick just two minutes later as she smashed the ball over Perkis’ head from 25-yards out. The result sees Town close the gap on leaders AFC Wimbledon to ten points, with the table toppers falling to a 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient. The Tractor Girls return to league action this Sunday at home to sixth-placed Luton Town at The Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe, kick-off 2pm.