Ipswich Town Women thrashed local rivals Norwich City 4-1 in the East Anglian derby in front of a big 761 crowd at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe on Wednesday evening, defender Paige Peake netting two and Maddie Biggs and Natasha Thomas one each.
England U18 international Peake gave the Blues the lead in the 20th minute with a 20-yard freekick which found the top corner of the Norwich net.
Town continued to dominate and had chances to extend their lead before half-time with Amanda Crump having an effort ruled out for offside and Sophie Peskett striking the bar.
But four minutes after the break, they did pull further in front. After good work from Peskett, Thomas shot low into the corner of the net.
Against the run of play the visitors pulled a goal back soon afterwards via Chelsea Garrett but Town’s two-goal advantage was quickly restored when the Blues were awarded a penalty after sub Biggs was fouled. Peake slammed the penalty into the top corner of the net to make it 3-1.
Biggs, 16, added the fourth in injury time, cutting inside and hitting a shot into the top corner to cap a famous night for the Blues and their best-ever 761 crowd, far higher than the 140 which watched the corresponding fixture last season and also the 500 which had been targeted prior to the match.
Among those present were men's team manager Paul Lambert, who spoke to the squad before the match, general manager of football operations Lee O'Neill, academy head of coaching and player development Bryan Klug and first-team players.
The Tractor Girls are now second in the FA Women's National League Division One South East table ahead of another home game against Actonians at the Goldstar Ground on Sunday afternoon (KO 2pm).
Town: Runnacles, Pannifer, Peake, Egan, Hubbard, Wilson, Crump (c), King (Wakefield), Cossey, Peskett, Thomas (Biggs).