x

Tractor Girls in Derby Cup Action - Ipswich Town News

Ipswich Town Women face local rivals Norwich City at the Nest in the third qualifying round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on Sunday afternoon (KO 1pm).

The teams met at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe at the same stage of the competition last year with the Tractor Girls running out 6-1 victors.

That was one of three derbies last season with the Blues winning the league games 4-1 at home and 10-0 away.

The Tractor Girls also won 10-0 in the last round of this season's competition a fortnight ago against Peterborough Northern Star, their most recent fixture, having vanquished Cambridge United by the same scoreline in the league in their previous game. Striker Natasha Thomas scored four in the cup tie and a hat-trick against the U's.

Town are currently top of the FAWNL South East Division One with a 100 per cent record and are still to concede, while the Canaries are fourth from bottom.

Last season the Tractor Girls reached the fifth round of the FA Cup before being beaten away by Manchester City - who play Everton in the delayed final on Sunday - the first time a fourth tier club had done so and the first time the club had progressed so far in their history.

The game is all-ticket with the Blues having received a very limited allocation which was distributed via a ballot.

Midfielder Georgia Allen, who will be playing in her first East Anglian derby, says the squad can’t wait for the game to get under way.

"I’m so looking forward to it, I know it’s an age old rival, the girls are very excited to get going,” she said.

"I know there are a lot of expectations on ourselves to put on a really good performance and I’m personally excited to be part of that.”

She added: "We haven’t had to have coaches gee us up, it’s all internally motivated, especially with small number of tickets available to us.

"We won’t have many people on our side up there, so if we wanted any more motivation, that was it, so I can’t wait for this Sunday.”

Manager Joe Sheehan says he’s treating the tie like any other fixture.

"The same as any other game, any other week,” he insisted. "Regardless of who we play, regardless of the competition we have the same approach, we operate the same and it will be no different.

"We worry about ourselves, we’ve a way in which we prepare and we stick to that every week and this Sunday will be no different.”

What to read next:

[Podcast] The Naked Football Show - Listen Again
This week's Naked Football Show is now available online.
Blue Action Coach Greeting Ahead of Huddersfield
Town independent supporters group Blue Action are are staging another of their coach greetings ahead of Saturday’s vital home game against Huddersfield Town at Portman Road.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Coventry City 1-2 Ipswich Town - Extended Gallery
Photos from last night's win against Coventry at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Robins: I Think They've Been Fantastic
Coventry City boss Mark Robins was full of praise for Town following his side’s 2-1 home defeat to the Blues, which took Kieran McKenna’s men to within a point of promotion to the Premier League.
Morsy: We Showed Resilience
Town captain Sam Morsy highlighted the squad’s resilience after the Blues moved to within one point of promotion to the Premier League with a crucial 2-1 victory over Coventry City.
Coventry City 1-2 Ipswich Town - Highlights
Highlights of last night’s 2-1 victory over Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
McKenna: Burns Injury Cramp, Clarke Knee Problem
Town boss Kieran McKenna has confirmed that Wes Burns and Leif Davis, who were both seen limping during this evening's 2-1 victory at Coventry City, have no big issues while Harry Clarke was unavailable for selection due to a knee problem.
McKenna: Up and Down Game, We Know Saturday Will Be Hard-Fought
Town boss Kieran McKenna felt the Blues’ 2-1 win at Coventry, which put his side a point from the Premier League, was an up and down affair with the Blues getting caught up in the game state and the outcome.
Coventry City 1-2 Ipswich Town - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.