Ipswich Town Women exited the FA Women’s National League Cup at the determining round stage after a heavy 6-0 defeat to Southampton at AFC Totton yesterday.
Alisha Ware netted a hat-trick and Ella Pusey, Sophia Pharaoh and Phoebe Williams netted once each for the home side.
The Saints took the lead via Pusey in the 16th minute of a game which was delayed due to the Blues being held up by heavy traffic and the result was never in doubt from there.
Town boss Joe Sheehan, who made eight changes from last week’s 1-1 opening day draw with AFC Wimbledon, was very disappointed with the display.
"What went wrong? Everything, to be honest. Really poor,” he said. "The first 10 or 15 was fairly even but both teams were trying to find their feet. They got their noses in front and it looked like there was only going to be one winner from there, that was them.
"I felt that this time of the season it was a big opportunity for us to change things around and give players an opportunity that they want [but it was] nowhere near our standard and [they] nowhere near grasped that opportunity at all.”
He added: "I think our strongest XI on our day will be a match for anyone at this level. We recognised that the cup competition gave us an opportunity to test ourselves against another team from a different region and give players an opportunity to try and earn their minutes in our league team, and nobody’s taken that opportunity.”
The defeat at this stage of the WNL Cup means the Tractor Girls will now be entered into the Women's National League Plate.
Ipswich Town Women are next in action away to Kent Football United on Sunday (Glentworth Club, Dartford, KO 2pm) before they are in derby action against Norwich City at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe on Wednesday 4th September (KO 7.45pm).
ITFC Women: Clarke, Rossiter, Dunn (Egan), Stretch (c), Pannifer, Lafayette, Flatt, King, Welton, Cossey (Abrehart), Thomas.