FA Premier League South East Div One Ipswich Town 5 Enfield Town 2 Ipswich Town Ladies’ kept their grasp on second place with a comfortable 5-2 victory over Enfield Town at The Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe, on Sunday.
Ipswich Town Ladies’ kept their grasp on 2nd place with a comfortable 5-2 victory over Enfield Town at The Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe, on Sunday.
Town captain Amanda Crump scored two penalties, with Lindsey Cooper, Gemma Moore and Sophie Welton also on target for the Blues. Katherine Long netted twice for the visitors.
Town took the lead on 19 minutes as Welton scored her 18th goal of the season. Natasha Thomas ran at the Enfield defence and forced keeper’ Kerrie Marlborough into a parried save, with Welton reacting quickest to bury the rebound. She then could have made it two goals inside a minute but hit the outside of the post after racing on to Cassie Craddock’s through ball, and rounding the stranded Marlborough.
The visitors drew level just three minutes later when Long skipped through the Town defence on the edge of the area and finished smartly into the far corner.
Despite the Blues being on top, Enfield found themselves in front against the run of play as Long grabbed her second goal of the game with a diving header, after Town failed to clear Danielle Smith’s free-kick.
However, the Tractor Girls responded almost instantly as they were awarded a penalty when Zoe Cossey was heavily bundled over in the area. Skipper Crump stepped up and calmly dispatched to bring the Blues level at the break.
Town re-took the lead just after the restart as Cooper leapt highest to meet Crump’s corner, with the towering defender nodding home inside the six-yard box. Town were given a scare a few minutes later as teenage defender Harriet Petley was forced off with a nasty gash on her ankle following a strong collision.
The Blue were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon twenty minutes from time when Thomas was tripped in the area. Crump stepped up and despite the best efforts of Marlborough, beat the Enfield keeper from the spot once again.
Tori Campbell thought she had confirmed the three points with ten minutes remaining but her classy finish was ruled out for offside. Moore however did complete the goal-fest at the death as she pounced on a loose ball and blasted home through a crowd of players.
The win keeps the Blues in 2nd place just ahead of Leyton Orient and thirteen points behind leaders AFC Wimbledon, with Town having two games in hand. The Tractor Girls return to action this Sunday away at 7th placed Stevenage.
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