Ipswich Town Women beat Wolves 4-2 in their final pre-season friendly at Telford United’s New Bucks Head this afternoon.
Summer Hughes gave the Tractor Girls the lead in the eighth minutes from a rebound, then Natasha Thomas (pictured) made it two on the quarter hour from an Anna Grey cross.
Wolves pulled a goal back on 28 via Amber Hughes to leave the scoreline 2-1 at half-time but two minutes after the restart Thomas netted her second of the afternoon to restore the Blues’ two-goal advantage with a shot into the top corner from just outside the area.
Zoe Barratt made it 4-1 in the 62nd minute having been played in on goal but the home side added their second of the afternoon in injury time though Amy Dicken.
The victory is a confidence-boosting way to complete pre-season with Wolves last season’s FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division champions. They subsequently lost to Southampton, who won the Southern Premier Division in which Town were third, in the play-offs.
The Blues get their 2022/23 season proper under way in a week's time when they host Portsmouth at the AGL Arena, Felixstowe.
"It was a really good performance from us and we’re happy with that,” double-goalscorer Thomas said afterwards.
"We wanted to show what we can do going into the season and though we did that, there are still things we can iron out.”
Manager Joe Sheehan was also pleased: "It was a good opportunity to see where we’re at compared to last year.
"We’ve still got a lot to refine, but there is still lots we can build on.”
Town: Quantrill (Meollo 84), Boswell (Evans 76), Horwood (c), Lafayette, Hughes, Robertson, King (Wearing 76), Grey (Hailes 84), Brasero-Carreira, Barratt (Way 84), Thomas. Subs: Mitchell.