The Tractor Girls bounced back from FA WNL Cup defeat with a dominant display to comfortably beat Luton Town 7-0 to book a place in the second round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
Town manager Joe Sheehan made two changes to side that lost to Hashtag United in the FA WNL Cup the previous week with Nia Evans replacing Bonnie Horwood and Lucy O’Brien coming in for Freya Godfrey, who was away with the England U19 squad and unavailable for selection.
The big news on the teamsheet for the day, however, was the inclusion of Sophie Peskett on the bench, returning from a long-term absence following an ACL injury early last season.
Ipswich started the game brightly and on five minutes took the lead through Natasha Thomas, who was played in on the right by Maddie Biggs and smashed the ball into the top-left corner from the edge of the box. Four minutes later, Biggs had the ball in the back of the net, but having been flagged offside and the goal did not stand.
Town continued to ramp up the pressure with Evans rattling the crossbar and O’Brien having a shot blocked, before doubling their lead on 14 minutes. Anna Grey, as always a pacy threat down the left, latched on to a cross-field ball from stand-in skipper Eloise King before driving forward, rounding the Luton keeper and slamming the ball into an empty net.
Once two goals to the good, Ipswich controlled the remainder of the first half and largely restricted Luton, who are top of the fifth tier Eastern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division with a 100 per cent record, to their own half with only a few exceptions, which they were able to comfortably defend.
Towards the end of the half Town had further opportunities to extend their lead but were unable to find the back of the net.
Sheehan made one substitution at half time, Leah Mitchell replacing Hughes, and Ipswich resumed their domination of the game albeit not creating many chances in the first 15 minutes of the half.
However, on 63 minutes Town scored their third and Thomas her second, heading in at the back post from an Grey corner.
The Blues extended their advantage further three minutes later with another headed goal, this time Maria Boswell connecting well with a cross into the box.
A minute later, Grey made way for Peskett to make her return to the pitch for the first time in over a year to a rapturous reception from the travelling support.
Peskett, a key player for Town in recent seasons, looked like she had never been away and four minutes after her introduction played a key part in Town’s fifth goal, bursting down the right before squaring the ball to Abbie Lafayette, who was able to put the ball in the net from close range.
Town made a further substitution on 80 minutes with Abbi Smith replacing O’Brien, before scoring a sixth goal three minutes later, again from a corner with Maddie Biggs slamming home.
As the game came to a close, Town scored their seventh and final goal on 88 minutes, Biggs forcing the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble.
The final scoreline reflected the dominance of Town from the first to last minute of the game, who were able to dictate and control play despite some sloppy possession in the middle third of the game.
The real positive for Town fans, however, was the return of Peskett to action and the 20-year-old, the club’s first-ever female professional, was able to demonstrate her importance to the side. Ipswich return to league action next weekend with a trip to Home Park to take on Plymouth Argyle.
Town: Quantrill, Boswell, Wearing, Lafayette, Hughes (Mitchell 46), Evans, King, Grey (Peskett 67), O’Brien (A Smith 80), Biggs, Thomas Unused: Meollo, Horwood.