Ipswich Town Women face fellow title challengers Southampton at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe this afternoon in a FAWNL Cup first round tie (KO 2pm).

The Tractor Girls currently top FAWNL Southern Premier Division by nine points from the Saints but with the Hampshire side having played three fewer games. Both teams have 100 per cent records this season.

Today’s match is a precursor for the teams’ first league meeting on November 21st at the Snows Stadium and is a chance for one of the two to put down a marker ahead of that match.

“I’m excited, it’s a great opportunity to test ourselves in a League Cup fixture,” manager Joe Sheehan said.

“You’ve only got to look at the last two or three months to know that we have been the top two teams in it so far. It’s going to be an exciting occasion and one we’re really looking forward to.”

He added: “I think we’re probably both wondering how to pitch our teams and people keep saying to me about keeping cards close to my chest and not changing too much and I’m sure they would have been asked similar questions as well.

“I’m trying not to look too deep into it, it’s just another game for us, it just happens to be against a team we’re competing against in our league.”

Photo: Ross Halls

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